Match News and Current Form
USA will be looking for a better start in this game than last weekend when they found themselves 21-0 down against Spain in Charlotte after only 23 minutes. Although they got the score back to 20-21 in the 51st minute, they were eventually beaten 20-31 to end a run of four successive victories.
That defeat saw USA slide down to 16th in the world rankings, and although head coach Scott Lawrence may not be expecting a victory against England, he will be keen to see them match if not exceed the four tries scored in their last H2H four years ago.
England will arrive at the Audi Field brimming with confidence after beating Argentina 17-22 last weekend following a 12-35 win over the same opposition only seven days earlier. Those victories mean that the Three Lions have now won three successive away matches, conceding two tries in each of the games.
Three uncapped players - centre Max Ojomoh, full-back Joe Carpenter and second row Arthur Clark - have all been selected in the XV by head coach Steve Lancaster who also welcomes back Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wing after he served a two-match suspension from a high tackle during an uncapped international against a France XV.
Head-to-Head History
England scored 43 and 45 points in their last two H2Hs with USA, both from 2019 onwards, and the last time they met in America they also racked up 48 points.
USA are yet to beat England (L7) and this will be their eighth attempt to do so!
Hot Stats and Streaks
• Across the USA’s last three games (W2, L1), the winning side have scored between 31 and 36 points.
• USA defeated a Tier 1 nation for the first time when Scotland were beaten 30-29 in 2018 but they have lost all eight fixtures against Tier 1s since.
• England have conceded between 12 and 17 points across three of their last four games (W4).
• England have scored the opening points of the game in each of their last four away fixtures (W3, L1).
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Benjamín Bonasso has crossed the line three times for the USA in July already and has scored their final try in both games this month. Wing Cadan Murley came off the bench to get England’s last try in their opening win in Argentina and he will be looking for a repeat of his only previous start when he scored a try and assisted another against Ireland in February.
Apart from the England regulars representing the British&Irish Lions in Australia, and Henry Slade who returned home after sustaining a hand injury two weekends ago, both sides will be at full strength.
Betting Analysis
England have scored a combined seven first half tries in their last two H2H victories over USA and ran in two more before the interval last weekend in Argentina. Therefore, backing England to get over 2.5 first half tries in Washington looks like a good tip.