Manoa to captain Eagles against Springboks

Samu Manoa will captain a largely reserve Eagles side to face South Africa at the Olympic Stadium in London on Wednesday. With the all-important Japan match on the horizon on Sunday, head coach Mike Tolkin has opted to rest the majority of his front line players, but has retained Manoa at the back of the scrum and appointed him leader for the first time.

Olive Kilifi and Chris Baumann start at prop, while a makeshift second row of Louis Stanfill and Matt Trouville pack down behind them. Danny Barrett and John Quill line up on the side of the scrum, an area of clear strength for the Eagles.

Niku Kruger wins his first test start at scrumhalf, with Shalom Suniula filling in for AJ MacGinty at flyhalf. Andrew Suniula and Folau Niua form an experienced midfield, while Zack Test and Brett Thompson are nominated on the wings.

Joseph Taufete’e could win his first test cap from the bench, where he is selected alongside three more front rowers, with Zach Fenoglio, Mate Moeakiola, and Titi Lamositele also present. Taufete’e also has experience in the back row, however, and could also see game time there. Mike Petri and Chris Wyles are the only backs reserves.

The Springboks are also expected to name a below full strength side, having just played against Scotland on Saturday. All three previous meetings of the teams have been won by South Africa, the last a 64-15 defeat in Montpellier at the 2007 World Cup.

USA
1 Olive Kilifi 2 Phil Thiel 3 Chris Baumann 4 Louis Stanfill 5 Matt Trouville 6 Danny Barrett 7 John Quill 8 Samu Manoa (capt.) 9 Niku Kruger 10 Shalom Suniula 11 Zack Test 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Folau Niua 14 Brett Thompson 15 Blaine Scully

16 Joseph Taufete’e 17 Zach Fenoglio 18 Mate Moeakiola 19 Titi Lamositele 20 Cameron Dolan 21 Al McFarland 22 Mike Petri 23 Chris Wyles