Round 1 of the ARC is the perfect time for a team like Chile to upset two-time defending champion USA, but the Eagles are on the lookout.

"Chile pose threats all over the park and will punish us if we are not disciplined and on task for the entire game," warned USA wing/center Marcel Brache. 

Watch USA vs Chile LIVE on FloRugby Saturday, Feb 2 at noon CT, 1pm ET

The Eagles got to Chile relatively late in the week and are putting a lot into today's training session ahead of Saturday's game. They won't have a lot of time to acclimate, but that's not the issue. The USA, said BRache, is focused on "having a really good session on Thursday which will give us the confidence to hopefully go out and perform against a well-drilled and passionate Chile team."

That certainly doesn't sound like a group that's looking past last year's 6th-place team to main rivals Argentina XV. 

Last year, said Brache, "was a great year for USA rugby and we as a group have acknowledged that. We also know that is now in the past, and 2019 is a new year with new challenges. We are currently 0-0 and Chile poses the first challenge for us as a group for this year. Having as good a training week as we can, getting clarity on our tram structures and philosophies and executing the skills required, will help us move in the right direction."

Without captain Blaine Scully, and without Nate Augspurger, who has usually captained the Eagles when Scully isn't available, the USA team might have a leadership void, but Brache isn't so sure.

"We as a group have grown a lot together, and we like to think that everyone is a leader in their own right," he said. "We have leaders all over the park and that certainly helps us maintain great standards in a test week. Dino Waldren is often a guy who will keep the mood light, as does Paul Mullen. Team DJs Joe [Taufete'e] and Ryan [Matyas] can read the energy pretty well and the tunes generally reflect the energy we may need."

OK, so it's about the music. No problem then.