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After suffering a serious beating at the hands of South Africa on Wednesday, head coach Mike Tolkin has returned to his first choice side for his team’s final Pool B match in Gloucester. Whether the game will have any importance beyond being an advert for two rising nations will be determined on Saturday when Scotland take on Samoa.
Samu Manoa and Zack Test are the only players to retain their spots in the lineup. The latter’s selection is somewhat of a surprise, most likely due to an injury to vice-captain Blaine Scully, though no official announcement of one has been forthcoming from the Eagles camp.
The only change to the side that faced Scotland is the restoration of Zach Fenoglio as first choice hooker. Cam Dolan remains on the bench despite calls from many for him to be returned to the starting lineup, while Danny Barrett and John Quill wait on the bench after competing manfully against the Springboks.
Shalom Suniula is a notable absentee from the bench, against presumably due to injury given his ability to cover both halfback positions. Scrumhalf specialist Niku Kruger will wear his shirt instead, with Folau Niua expected to cover the remainder of the back positions.
The Eagles enjoyed their first win in 12 years over the Brave Blossoms in Sacramento this summer, and will be looking to repeat that result in Gloucester and earn their first win of the tournament. The match also signals the end of the pool stages for all teams, with the quarter-finals set to begin on October 17.
USA
1 Eric Fry 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 Titi Lamositele 4 Hayden Smith 5 Greg Peterson 6 Al McFarland 7 Andrew Durutalo 8 Samu Manoa 9 Mike Petri 10 AJ MacGinty 11 Zack Test 12 Thretton Palamo 13 Seamus Kelly 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya 15 Chris Wyles (capt.)
16 Phil Thiel 17 Olive Kilifi 18 Chris Baumann 19 Cameron Dolan 20 John Quill 21 Danny Barrett 22 Niku Kruger 23 Folau Niua
