Changes aplenty for USA v Tonga

USA and Tonga will both field heavily changed sides for round three of the Pacific Nations Cup, which takes place in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon. Each side comes in with a 1-1 record having lost their first game and won the second. The Eagles came from behind to beat Japan 23-18 on Friday, while Tonga beat Canada 28-18.

Mike Tolkin has opted to rest virtually the entire side that beat the Brave Blossoms in Sacramento, retaining only Cam Dolan and Scott LaValla in the starting lineup. Phil Thiel leads the side with Chris Wyles given the day off, and is joined in the front row by Mate Moeakiola in the unusual position of loosehead prop and debutant Chris Baumann at tighthead. Lou Stanfill and Greg Peterson round the tight five, and Al McFarland gets his first test start at no8.

An entirely new backline is directed by halfbacks Shalom Suniula and Toby L’Estrange, with Andrew Suniula and Folau Niua paired in the midfield. Sevens squad members Zack Test and Brett Thompson are on the wing, with Troy Hall at fullback. Test will also be making his run-on debut. Tim Stanfill makes his first PNC appearance on the bench.

Mana Otai has been less dramatic, making his changes to his Tongan side that triumped over Canada in Burnaby. Soane Tonga’uiha is the most notable inclusion, returning to the Ikale Tahi jersey for the first time since November of 2012. Flankers Hale T-Pole and Nili Latu both get a rest, with Steve Mafi starting on the blindside and assuming the captaincy, and Northland’s Jack Ram winning his first cap at openside. Viliami Fihaki starts at the back with Vili Ma’afu struggling with a shoulder injury.

The backs show two changes. Alipate Fatafehi is recalled in the no12 jersey with Viliami Tahitu’a left out, and Otulea Katoa starts at fullback, with Vunga Lilo moved to the bench. Lua Lokotui is fit enough to cover second row in the reserves, while Sosefo Ma’ake still awaits his first camp as backup scrumhalf.

In eight previous meetings of the two, USA has beaten Tonga only once, in their first ever test in 1999, played at Boxer Stadium in San Francisco. The Ikale Tahi has won the last six matches, including a 40-12 result in Gloucester this past November.

USA
1 Mate Moeakiola 2 Phil Thiel (capt.) 3 Chris Baumann 4 Louis Stanfill 5 Greg Peterson 6 Cameron Dolan 7 Scott LaValla 8 Al McFarland 9 Shalom Suniula 10 Toby L’Estrange 11 Zack Test 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Folau Niua 14 Brett Thompson 15 Troy Hall

16 Zach Fenoglio 17 Nick Wallace 18 Eric Fry 19 Hayden Smith 20 Andrew Durutalo 21 Mike Petri 22 Thretton Palamo 23 Tim Stanfill

TONGA
1 Soane Tonga’uiha 2 Elvis Taione 3 Halani Aulika 4 Uili Kolo’ofai 5 Joe Tu’ineau 6 Steve Mafi (capt.) 7 Jack Ram 8 Viliami Fihaki 9 Tane Takulua 10 Kurt Morath 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo 12 Alipate Fatafehi 13 Sione Piukala 14 Telusa Veainu 15 Otulea Katoa

16 Sefo Sakalia 17 Sona Taumalolo 18 Sila Puafisi 19 Lua Lokotui 20 Hale T-Pole 21 Sosefo Ma’ake 22 Latiume Fosita 23 Vungakoto Lilo