Battle for Forward Spots in USA RWC Camp

As we take a closer look at the Eagles’ Rugby World Cup Training Roster, it is easy to see where the most competition exists. This is not to take anything away from the backs, who have some intriguing selections ahead. The forward selections, particularly in the back row, are enough to give Head Coach Mike Tolkin plenty of sleepless nights. These are the good type of problems to have, of course, as the Eagles roster from top to bottom has more depth than at any time in team history.

Prop

Starting up front, the Eagles front row has been much maligned over the years. A group that is expected to scrummage well, has had difficulty in this area for years. The group, as a whole, is a mobile unit of props that do quite well in loose play, but it is the set piece that is the measuring stick for front rows. Fortunately for the group, there is a good chance that Tolkin will take five of them to England. Eric Fry has taken the brunt of criticism over the years as he seems to scrummage quite well for the Newcastle Falcons, but then looks overmatched when playing for the Eagles.

Titi Lamositele is the prop that most USA fans are hoping to see step up. He’s played well for Saracens, but has run into injury issues. If he can stay healthy, he is the prop of the future for the Eagles. Olive Kilifi and Nick Wallace have both been solid performers. Kilifi struggles in loose play, but could serve as a solid late-game prop sub. Wallace has shown that he could be in the front row mix as well. Mate Moeakiola returns to the roster after falling out of favor. Moeakiola, who has 29 caps to his name, has plenty of experience that could be valuable to the Eagles this Summer. Chris Baumann could be the odd man out based on experience, but the Santa Monica prop could surprise some of the incumbents.

Hooker

The Eagles’ Hooker is a less murky subject than some of the other positions. Phil Thiel, with 26 caps, has settled in as Tolkin’s first choice at Hooker. He is good in the loose and the lineout is the Eagles’ best set piece by a wide margin. He’ll be pushed by the American-born Australian Tom Coolican, who broke into the Eagles lineup in 2014 and has proven to be a dependable replacement for Thiel. Zach Fenoglio and Mike Shepard appear to be on the outside looking in as Tolkin will likely only take two Hookers to England. They’ll both need strong showings this Summer to push their way into the picture.

Lock

Things start to get complicated for the Eagles when looking at the 2nd Row position. There are a number of players in the Eagles camp that can play both 2nd and 3rd row. A few that can do it very well. Samu Manoa is widely considered a World-Class No. 8, but Tolkin likes to use him as a Lock.

The emergence of Greg Peterson, who just signed with the Glasgow Warriors, give the Eagles a true 2nd Row option. The return of Hayden Smith, from his stint in the NFL, also give the USA another 2nd Row to work with. Smith has had time to acclimate himself back to rugby and could be looking at the World Cup as an opportunity reclaim a starting role with the Eagles. London Scottish Lock Tai Tuisamoa could also sneak into the picture, but with a crowded picture he could be on the outside track.

Louis Stanfill is another player that has bounced back and forth between roles, but has been mostly a 2nd Row sub of late. His playing time has also diminished in recent years suggesting that this could be his last run at a World Cup. Stanfill made his debut in 2005 and has made 51 appearances in an Eagles’ jersey.

Todd Clever is another possible option in the 2nd Row. Clever has played the position professionally and could certainly be made use of in the 2nd Row for the Eagles as a younger crop of back row forwards have emerged for the USA. Ben Landry will get some good experience, but will likely be the odd man out this time around.

Loose Forwards

The most crowded of all positions, the USA has a glut of talent in the loose forwards. A quick look at the Eagles 3rd Row prospects is a who’s who of well regarded international players. Samu Manoa tops the list, but is followed closely by Scott LaValla, Cam Dolan, and 7s star Danny Barrett who turned heads when he made his 15s debut for the Eagles in 2014. That is even before looking at Team Captain Todd Clever who has 63 caps for the USA.

Manoa, LaValla, and Dolan have all been in high-end playing and training environments. Barrett just finished an entire season of play in 7s and is in a daily rugby environment. Clever, on the other hand, finished his time in Japan earlier this year and played much of the Spring with OMBAC in the Pacific Rugby Premiership. Not quite on the same level as his back row competition. As with Stanfill, there is reason to believe this could be Clever’s swan song. He produced some solid performances last year for the Eagles and may have enough left in his tank for one more run.

Many have called for LaValla to take over as Captain of the Eagles. The Eagle stalwart, who just finished his contract with Stade Francais, has shown the leadership and poise to make a strong claim for the Captaincy.

Outside of the big names, Inaki Basauri has returned to the picture and can play the dual role like many of the others. John Quill is an able performer and could find his way onto the World Cup roster. Al McFarland, John Cullen, Kyle Sumsion, and Andrew Durutalo are all long shots in such a talented pool of players. Cullen could work his way in by way of the 2nd Row.

Outlook

Eagles’ Head Coach Mike Tolkin has his hand full choosing the World Cup roster. No doubt about it. The front row selections shouldn’t provide any surprises, but the expectations are high. The Eagles need to produce a scrum that can provide a decent attacking platform. The pressure is going to be on that group. The rest of the pack is going to be extremely difficult to call. Depth certainly will not be an issue. There could be a surprise pick or two in the bunch, but the real trouble isn’t going to come in selecting the roster. The hard part is selecting starters. Tolkin has a number of combinations that can be used to give the squad flexibility. Expect him to explore a number of combinations over the course of the Summer.