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Much has changed for the Eagles since our last look at a potential depth chart. For starters, the team returned to test rugby after nearly two years on the sidelines. It gave us a much clearer picture of where players lie in the minds of the selectors, and also sees a number of new internationals. There is now just one uncapped players on our list of 44.
A year-end tour might have ironed out a couple other questions marks. Instead we’ll have to speculate on the status of some key players who did not partake in the World Cup Qualifiers against Canada and Uruguay. We’ll also assume that all players will be available for the series against Chile in July.
Domestic form during the Major League Rugby campaign should have a significant influence on selection. The only warm-up matches likely to be taking place for the Eagles to prepare for the Cóndores are a pair of friendlies against the French Barbarians intended to be played immediately beforehand.
USA EAGLES
| ## | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
FIRST XV
| 1 | David Ainu’u | Toulouse (FR) | LH | 15 |
| 2 | Mike Sosene-Feagai | Toulon (FR) | HO | 6 |
| 3 | Titi Lamositele | Montpellier (FR) | TH | 32 |
| 4 | Nate Brakeley | Rugby New York | LO | 30 |
| 5 | Nick Civetta | Rugby New York | LO | 33 |
| 6 | Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz | Old Glory DC | FL / N8 | 6 |
| 7 | Hanco Germishuys | Rugby New York | FL | 27 |
| 8 | Cam Dolan | NOLA Gold | N8 | 58 |
| 9 | Ruben de Haas | Saracens (UK) | SH | 23 |
| 10 | AJ MacGinty (c) | Sale Sharks (UK) | FH | 30 |
| 11 | Mika Kruse | Utah Warriors | WI | 5 |
| 12 | Paul Lasike | Harlequins (UK) | CE | 19 |
| 13 | Bryce Campbell | Austin Gilgronis | CE | 39 |
| 14 | Mike Te’o | Utah Warriors | WI / FB | 30 |
| 15 | Marcel Brache | Austin Gilgronis | FB / CE | 28 |
The shift to tighthead prop for Joe Taufete’e is the biggest change here. While he started the tests against Los Teros, we maintain hope that Titi Lamositele will return to contention in 2022. If so he is the most experienced No3 available to Gary Gold.
Kapeli Pifeleti started at hooker but Mike Sosene-Feagai’s move to Toulon shoots him up the rankings. As with Lamositele, we could expect Sosene-Feagai to start at hooker in a full-strength side. Meanwhile Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz has slipped ahead in the blindside flanker role.
Paul Lasike has returned to training with Harlequins after missing the entire international season with injury. There is a new contender in the midfield with Tavite Lopeti impressing in his introduction to test rugby but the World Cup duo holds their place for now.
The outside backs remain something of a conundrum, with none of the three selections certainties. Marcel Brache shifted to fullback this year while Mike Te’o is to commit to the wing for the Utah Warriors this season. Mika Kruse has settled out wide but contenders are lining up to challenge for a starting berth.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Kapeli Pifeleti | Saracens (UK) | HO | 8 |
| 17 | Chance Wenglewski | Rugby New York | LH | 8 |
| 18 | Joe Taufete’e | Lyon (FR) | TH | 33 |
| 19 | Greg Peterson | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | LO | 34 |
| 20 | Psalm Wooching | Rouen Normandie (FR) | FL | 6 |
| 21 | Nate Augspurger | San Diego Legion | SH / WI | 31 |
| 22 | Will Hooley | San Diego Legion | FH / FB | 18 |
| 23 | Tavite Lopeti | Seattle Seawolves | CE | 5 |
Greg Peterson was left out of the starting side against Uruguay but should be considered a strong chance to return for the Chile tests. Similarly Psalm Wooching can challenge for a starting role on the side of the scrum if he continues to play regularly for Rouen.
It’s a coin-toss decision between Will Hooley and Will Magie as bench cover for flyhalf and fullback. Hooley started against New Zealand so he gets the nod, but MLR form should dictate which of the two is the preferred candidate. It’s also possible that both could feature in a match day 23 if Gold opts to return to a second playmaker option in the No15 shirt.
Lopeti’s rise has been swift and he will be expected to impress in his first season as a professional. The return to fitness of Nate Augspurger allows a specialist center to be picked on the bench, with Christian Dyer seemingly set to play in the midfield for Houston and the best candidate for a more versatile three-quarter option.
TRAVELING RESERVES
| 24 | Dylan Fawsitt | Rugby New York | HO | 20 |
| 25 | Matt Harmon | NOLA Gold | LH | 5 |
| 26 | Paul Mullen | Utah Warriors | TH | 25 |
| 27 | Siaosi Mahoni | Houston SaberCats | LO | 5 |
| 28 | Moni Tonga’uiha | NOLA Gold | FL | 2 |
| 29 | Benjamín Bonasso | Rugby New York | N8 / FL | 2 |
| 30 | Michael Baska | SH | 3 | |
| 31 | Will Magie | Austin Gilgronis | FH / FB | 31 |
| 32 | Christian Dyer | Houston SaberCats | CE / WI | 6 |
| 33 | Ryan Matyas | San Diego Legion | WI | 14 |
There are several new names here with Matt Harmon, Moni Tonga’uiha, Benjamín Bonasso, Michael Baska, and Christian Dyer all making their test bows in 2021. Another name would have been openside flanker Andrew Guerra but long-term injury means he could be sidelined until 2023.
With Ben Landry now committed to the Seawolves through to the World Cup there is every chance he could jump back into the picture, even as a potential starter in the second row. European-based lock or blindside flanker Nafi Ma’afu and back row Malon Al-Jiboori were not selected at all in 2021. Had a tour taken place in November that might have been different.
Baska has departed the Utah Warriors but his destination is still to be determined. He’ll need to find a home soon or risk losing his place to the likes of Nick Boyer or one of a handful of uncapped contenders. The surprise recall of Ryan Matyas puts him back into the frame just ahead of Ryan James, though that could easily flip between now and July.
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
| 34 | Chad Gough | Utah Warriors | HO | 1 |
| 35 | Faka’osi Pifeleti | San Diego Legion | LH | 1 |
| 36 | Dino Waldren | NOLA Gold | TH | 22 |
| 37 | Ben Landry | Seattle Seawolves | LO / FL | 25 |
| 38 | Malon Al-Jiboori | Ealing Trailfinders (UK) | FL | 6 |
| 39 | Riekert Hattingh | Seattle Seawolves | N8 | 2 |
| 40 | Ryan Rees | Rugby ATL | SH | – |
| 41 | Luke Carty | LA Giltinis | FH | 6 |
| 42 | Calvin Whiting | Utah Warriors | CE | 3 |
| 43 | Ryan James | LA Giltinis | WI | 1 |
| 44 | Mike Dabulas | Old Glory DC | FB | 2 |
Another unexpected selection to the Eagles was that of Chad Gough as bench cover for the All Blacks test. NOLA’s Pat O’Toole is right in behind him and it’s not too late for San Diego’s Peter Malcolm to make a push for a recall. Faka’osi Pifeleti and Dino Waldren also appear capable of taking another step up the ladder with strong MLR campaigns.
Danny Barrett could be back in the loose forward picture after signing for Houston, but he will be 32 years old before the July tests and it remains to be seen how quickly he can make the adjustment back to the 15-a-side game. Other players of interest in the back row are Utah captain Bailey Wilson, Free Jacks openside Joe Johnston, and ATL eightman Jason Damm. Johnston is yet to declare his availability for the USA while Damm is currently working his way back from a serious knee injury.
Luke Carty is in the same mix with Magie and Hooley, with Ben Cima falling off the pace due to injury. Calvin Whiting pushed his case as a legitimate midfield option though with the self-imposed hiatus of Dylan Audsley, new contenders would be welcome.
The guessing game continues out wide with Mike Dabulas taking his first international steps in 2021. John Ryberg, Conner Mooneyham, Harry Barlow, Harley Wheeler, and Eric Naposki are uncapped wingers who could put their hand up for selection between now and July. Matai Leuta, Maka Unufe, and Martin Iosefo are also in the running after leaving the Eagles Sevens program.
An expanded player pool can be seen here.
