Eagles named for World Cup challenge

Mike Tolkin has announced his final World Cup roster, and as expected there are no changes to the 31-man training squad named three weeks ago. Chris Wyles will lead the side with no place for Todd Clever, the former skipper unceremoniously discarded after skipping training sessions and allegedly disagreeing with team management prior to the Pacific Nations Cup.

Otherwise the team contains all of the USA’s top professional exports, including Northampton Saints powerhouse Samu Manoa, who heads to European champions Toulon following the tournament. Manoa famously did not take part in the 2011 World Cup after choosing instead to stay with Saints and solidify his spot in the team, a decision that was not well received by the American rugby community.

Belmont Shore front row Joseph Taufete’e is the only uncapped player in the squad, having made his Eagles debut as a replacement prop against Harlequins at PPL Park. With only two specialist hookers – Zach Fenoglio and Phil Thiel – named it will be Taufete’e and Santa Monica’s Chris Baumann who provide emergency cover.

Rapidly rising Life star AJ MacGinty is the only specialist flyhalf, as Shalom Suniula and Folau Niua look to be the alternative options, and Cameron Dolan appears set to continue as a second row after adding ballast to his 6’6” frame during the season with Northampton Saints. Dolan will head to Cardiff Blues for the upcoming club season, where he will be joined by squad vice-captain Blaine Scully, a Leicester Tigers favourite in recent times.

A number of Mike Friday’s 7s squad have made the team, many with only loose affiliations with USA-based XVs clubs. Danny Barrett and Andrew Durutalo have put themselves in strong positions to challenge for starting back row spots, while wholly unattached Zack Test is perhaps a surprise inclusion given his limited resume in the full version.

The Eagles close out their tournament preparations with a final home match against Australia at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 5. Their first Pool B match in the World Cup comes on September 20 in Brighton, where they face off against Samoa. Scotland, South Africa, and Japan will be their other opponents in the opening round.

FORWARDS
Chris Baumann (Santa Monica), Eric Fry (Newcastle), Olive Kilifi (Seattle), Titi Lamositele (Saracens), Mate Moeakiola (Castanet), Joseph Taufete’e (Belmont Shore), Zach Fenoglio (Glendale), Phil Thiel (Life), Cameron Dolan (Northampton), Greg Peterson (Leicester), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Louis Stanfill (Seattle), Danny Barrett (SFGG), Andrew Durutalo (Seattle), Scott LaValla (Stade Français), Samu Manoa (Northampton), Al McFarland (NYAC), John Quill (NYAC)

BACKS
Niku Kruger (Kutztown), Mike Petri (NYAC), Shalom Suniula (Seattle), AJ MacGinty (Life), Seamus Kelly (SFGG), Folau Niua (SFGG), Thretton Palamo (Saracens), Andrew Suniula (CSM Bucuresti), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), Zack Test (USA 7s), Brett Thompson (Tempe), Blaine Scully (Leicester), Chris Wyles (capt., Saracens)