US Eagles v New Zealand

Where Eagles Dare

Tom Hamilton in Chicago

Kieran Read settles into life in Chicago © Getty Images Enlarge

Chicago is fond of its animals. Bears, hawks and bulls all form its sporting DNA but come Saturday at Soldier Field there will be Kiwis and Eagles running out on the hallowed turf. It is the biggest game in US rugby history as Mike Tolkin's men host the All Blacks, the No.1 side in the world and the reigning world champions, in front of 61,500 slightly curious viewers.

In truth, the Eagles have little to no chance of beating the All Blacks but the ramifications of the game will play a huge role in promoting the game in the country.

USA has 107,000 rugby club members but just 12 of their matchday 23 against the All Blacks are professional. The star that shines brightest in their team is Northampton's Samu Manoa but he is a reluctant hero. He shies away from the limelight and admitted on Thursday "I don't like talking to the media" as he was putting his socks and boots on as the Eagles went through their paces in the shadow of a disused factory just off West Harrison St. American rugby is still adjusting to an increased awareness. The spotlight does not yet sit easily on their shoulders.

Marginal Gains: Rugby's bond with the NFL Rugby management is split into two. There is introspection where the coach tries to improve his side from within by addressing culture and player pathways, but there is that other element, one where they are constantly keeping an eye on the opposition to see what is being done differently. As Sir Clive Woodward put it, it is about finding those extra "one percenters", the marginal gains.

The same goes for players; the unknown is appealing. The past decade has seen the rate of transfers from one continent to another increase year-on-year as players increasingly have the carrot of foreign riches toyed in front of their eyes.

As America becomes accustomed to rugby and the wonderful physicality of the sport, there will no doubt be various football coaches keeping an eye on some of the game's talent on Saturday at a sold-out Soldier Field. They may start to ponder if a winger can do a job as a running back, or if the forwards can play in defence.

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It is a far cry from the pomp and circumstance that accompanies their opponents. The All Blacks are a big business. Second-row Jeremy Thrush said their jaunt to the USA was "important for the brand" when he spoke to the press on Thursday; gone are the days when rugby sides are referred to as mere teams.

There are financial benefits of Saturday's game. Both the Eagles and the All Blacks have a partnership with AIG, which has its headquarters in Chicago, but for US rugby it is a watershed moment.

Prior to the runout on Saturday, the biggest attendance they have drawn on home soil has been just over 20,000, which came against Ireland last year in Houston. That the All Blacks have decided to play in Chicago is testament to the astounding work Nigel Melville has done as CEO of USA Rugby since he took on the job seven years ago. In that time they have seen an increase in the number of players plying their trade in the world's top leagues and a huge growth in youth rugby.

The seeds are there for expansion but they will need to put on a good show in a primetime slot. Rugby is not an easy sell in America, even less so in a saturated sporting environment like Chicago but while the All Blacks are relatively anonymous as they walk down Michigan Avenue there are signs of rugby life in the city.

You see the odd All Blacks shirt being sported and you sense there is a curiosity about the sport. For the Eagles, this is their big chance to show the country what they are made of.

Coached by Mike Tolkin, someone who has taken a Stuart Lancaster-esque pathway to the top, he knows this is a watershed moment for the sport. "Having the world champions come to the States is a massive deal and everyone's excited about that," Tolkin said. "Having the game at Soldier Field is big, it's an iconic stadium in American sport. And playing in Chicago is huge, they love sports here. Those three elements coming into the game make it a great occasion and our guys are pumped up to play the game."

"It's really important that we put a quality performance on the park so those watching think that's how rugby is meant to be played and they want to be a part of that. We need to create a wow factor"

Todd Clever, their captain, has been around a while. He has played in two World Cups but even he never believed an occasion such as Saturday's was possible. "It's massive, I didn't think this would be possible in America," Clever told ESPN. "I've done a lot in my rugby career but this game will be at the top of the list in terms of accomplishments and what I'm proud of. I've worked hard for it, but that's just me personally. I am aware of the weight on our shoulders as a growing rugby nation and we want to put on a good show. This could be the big kick off we need."

He skippers a side featuring five Aviva Premiership players while Stade Francais' Scott LaValla and Edinburgh's Brett Thompson also get a run. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen admitted on Thursday they know little about their opponents but when you are the world's best side, they spend more time looking introspectively than being paranoid about their opponents' strengths.

There are nine World Cup winners in their matchday squad even with the likes of Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Conrad Smith sat in the stands. For the All Blacks, their mission is simple. Hansen wants players to put down a marker before they embark on their tour of Europe but the game will also see the return of Sonny Bill Williams after his stint in league and Dan Carter taking his first tentative steps back into international rugby after injury.

Nathan Harris starts for the All Blacks © Getty Images Enlarge

The All Blacks have enjoyed their time in Chicago this week. Being incognito is an unfamiliar experience for them but they are also aware of the significance of Saturday's match. US Sevens winger Zack Test described the country's rugby scene as a "sleeping giant" on Thursday and Hansen believes they have the resources and playing pool to be a force in world rugby.

"A major part of this game is making a statement about the game of rugby and to help this country get more people playing," Hansen said. "The United States will be making their statement and we have to make one too."

However, he is fully aware that if the All Blacks hand the Eagles a 70-point drubbing, something they are widely tipped to do, it could do more harm than good.

"There is that but there are 61,000 people coming and most of those people understand that the USA team is on the rise and the team they are playing is the best in the world," Hansen said. "There are a lot of excited people coming to watch it. It's really important that we put a quality performance on the park so those watching think that's how rugby is meant to be played and they want to be a part of that. The young kids will think 'I didn't think you can do that'. We need to create a wow factor."

Regardless of the result, Eagles coach Tolkin wants his team to "leave blood and guts on the field". For them hosting such a match is half the battle; anything else now is a bonus.

You feel Saturday's game could be the launchpad for the sport in the country. But America must capitalise on this spike in interest. The All Blacks will win and handsomely at that, but it is a match where the significance of the occasion transcends the result. It is not every day you see rugby posts on Soldier Field.

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Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.