Dismiss the Yanks at your peril

Rugby: Autumn Internationals Ireland v USA As a mission statement, or at least one of intent, US Eagles coach Tom Billups captured the essence of the challenge his team will pose for Ireland in tomorrow's Test at Lansdowne Road: "We're amateur in economic fact and professional in every other respect."

That assertion is reinforced by the team's preparation - from the playbooks they carry to the three daily team meetings convened to complement the twice-daily training sessions. Four days on from their arrival in Dublin and the Americans have hit the pitch seven times.

When professional players refer to the sacrifices made to play the sport they don't quite manage to pitch it at the same level as the majority of the American team - there are four professionals in the team - who will spend whatever time they can spare behind laptops in an effort to keep on top of the day job back home.

The Americans, though, are not looking for sympathy either on or off the pitch, as Billups explained.

"We are encouraged by the attitude and effort of the players and are here to play rugby not as amateurs. I am very proud of my players."

Billups hasn't confined himself to trawling through the 63,000 registered players in the US, but scoured other sports for athletes whom he could introduce to the game. In that respect the team he has chosen includes players introduced from other codes.

The American coach is unequivocal about what he expects from his side. "We want to establish performance-orientated goals and meet those objectives. If we do that then the scoreboard will take care of itself."

A good friend of his Irish counterpart, Eddie O'Sullivan, from their time together as player and coach, Billups isn't looking for any favours. He wanted Ireland to select a strong team, which he believes they have, so his team can realise their true international standing.

He described Ireland's victory over South Africa as "fantastic" and he praised them for "playing a style of rugby that suits them and not trying to mimic others".

The Americans will be led for the seventh time by Cardiff-based Kort Schubert from number eight, and, in Gerhard Klerck, the South African-born second row, they include a player who competed against Leinster in their recent European Cup match against Benetton Treviso.

Outhalf Mike Hercus has created quite a reputation at the Sale Sharks and requires just 18 points to break the American points scoring record in Test rugby; a superb achievement when considering that tomorrow will be only his 22nd international appearance.

Tighthead prop Jacob Waasdorp will be familiar to Dublin University supporters as he played with Trinity in 2002.

Billups makes four changes, one positional, from the team that narrowly lost to France in Connecticut 39-31 during the summer. Second row Alec Parker, blindside flanker Brian Surgener and right wing Al Lakomskis are introduced, while Schubert switches from flanker to number eight.

America scored five tries in that match, underscoring an ability in possession. That was the Eagles fifth game in a seven-week stint and underlined the value to them of having their players for a prolonged period.

Centre Paul Emerick - he played full back in the 2003 World Cup - who plays his club rugby in Italy, is a 25-year-old athlete of whom much is expected.

His battle with Ireland's captain Brian O'Driscoll could provide a fascinating duel.

Billups is well used during his 11 year involvement as a player and now coach to, as he puts it, the "condescending pats on the shoulder", something which grates.

"We choose not to be a victim of our circumstances. Our players have to over-achieve if we're to get that breakthrough performance. We want to compete at the highest levels."

Tomorrow's match will provide an insight into where they stand and the distance still to be covered before they travel to Turin and a date with the Italians on Saturday week.

The biggest compliment Ireland could pay the Americans is to tear into them tomorrow.15 Francois Viljoen (Washington)

14 Al Lakomskis (Belmont Shore)

13 Paul Emerick (Calvisano)

12 Salesi Sika (Brigham Young)

11 David Fee (Chicago Lions)

10 Mike Hercus (Sale Sharks)

9 Mose Timoteo (San Francisco)

1 Mike MacDonald (Univ Calif)

2 Matt Wyatt (OMBAC)

3 Jacob Waasdorp (Warringah)

4 Alec Parker (Aspen)

5 Gerhard Klerck (Treviso)

6 Brian Surgener (Back Bay)

7 Tony Petruzzella (Cal Polytechnic)

8 Kort Schubert (Cardiff, capt)

Replacements: 16 Mike Hobson, 17 Chris Osentowski, 18 Jurie Gouws, 19 Fifita Mo'unga, 20 David Williams, 21 Matt Sherman, 22 Albert Tuipulotu.