Blacks at any cost.

The United States? Not only do the Eagles want to face New Zealand in the round robin, they want to meet South Africa, too, each a powerhouse considered as early favourites to win the seventh tournament.

Classic organiser John Kane granted the Eagles their bizarre wish -- the US battle New Zealand on opening day (November 6) and then play the Springboks three days later (November 9).

"That was the selling point we made to our players,'' US skipper Brian Vizard said in a telephone interview yesterday. "We want to bring the best team possible and we want to play the best teams possible.'' The Eagles will be making their second straight visit to Bermuda (they lost to the All Blacks in the 1989 final) and blossomed into fan favourites a year ago after coming awfully close to tripping up New Zealand in their first game.

They continued to be popular even after a 27-12 victory over Bermuda.

The Island's love affair with the US team, however, is likely to stop there.

Does anyone remember the Eagles' 60-3 victory over Bermuda in the World Cup qualifier? "I wasn't in on that,'' Vizard said, laughing nervously. "I hope people won't take their frustrations out on us. We had nothing to do with that.'' Local fans with long memories won't allow the team with the bright red tops and gleaming white shorts forget about that debacle. Many of the US players, including Vizard, are long-time products of the Eagles, although no member of the team that chewed up Bermuda will be playing here next month.

And even though none of the Eagle oldtimers will be coming here with the single-mindedness that characterised Jack Clark's warriors last spring, Vizard said his team this time would be treating this year's Classic with a little more seriousness.

"Not to the point of hyperventilating before a game,'' he said from his office in San Diego. "I'm hoping the guys come up and meet the challenge, that's what I'm counting on. We're bringing a pretty good group of athletes.

"I think we've got to have 22 players we can rotate in and out of play. It's just going to be hard rugby. If we don't bring our opponents down, they're just going to run all over us. We've always had a pretty good passion for tackling.

"If we're going to win this thing, it's going to be because of our tackling ability. We've never really put a lot of points on the board.'' With the exception of the game against Bermuda, the Americans had trouble scoring points during last year's tournament, notching only four tries in crucial matches against the All Blacks and England.

Wing Mike Smith, who is among the key returnees, scored more than one try (he had two) while the other tries came from seven different Eagles.

The game against England in the slugfest for third place was one of the tournament's most brutal games -- Smith and Vizard had broken noses when it was over.

Vizard, 35, with a nasal twang which gives testament to several smashed noses, is convinced the US could have beaten England if most of his players had not had to leave Bermuda before the match.

"We have stipulated in our letter to the guys that they are in Bermuda for the duration this year,'' said Vizard, six-foot-five and 215 pounds. "We took some heat from organisers last year, so if you sign up you know what you're getting into. We've got one guy coming in a couple of days late and he'll be the only one who won't be with us the whole time.'' The players who will be here will be no strangers to international rugby. At least 18 have Test experience, and most have only stopped playing during the last few years. With 22 under his own belt, Vizard, who played from 1986 to 1991, has the most caps of any US player. He also played in two World Cups, in 1987 and 1991, but has grim memories of his second foray when he wrecked his left elbow.

"It was a bitter end to my career,'' the backrow specialist said.

Later he said: "I'm not sure what goes on in other countries but I think our players stay in the game a little longer. Probably half of our guys are still playing. I think we tend to stay in shape a little better in our older age.'' Vizard is trying desperately to eke out a living by staying in rugby, but works part time with a trucking firm.

His finest memories of his first trip to Bermuda aren't necessarily from the big party at Number One Shed. "I had five moped accidents and a lot of Bacardi,'' he said. "At one point I had 120 drink tickets in my pocket. But seriously, I've been to something like 25 different countries and Bermuda is the most beautiful place I've ever been to.'' ROUGH AND READY -- Brian Vizard (centre) needed more than just protection on his teeth during last year's battle for third place against England.