TORONTO – Phil Thiel (Traverse City, Mich.) will captain the Men’s Eagles against Tonga Wednesday in the final pool-play match of the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.
Head Coach Mike Tolkin has made a number of changes to the side that defeated Japan in Sacramento Friday, July 24, including 13 players in the starting XV. Kickoff from BMO Stadium July 29 is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, with ESPN3 providing the live broadcast.
Thiel has captained the USA Rugby Selects at the Americas Rugby Championship and brings a wealth of experience from 28 international caps to the team, which also features Mate Moeakiola (Tongatapu, Tonga) and debutant Chris Baumann (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) in the front row.
“With a lot of green players in the lineup Wednesday, having veteran leaders who are able to keep composure is vital, and Andrew, Louie, Phil, Scott, and Mate help to do that,” Tolkin said.
Featured as a late substitute in the first defeat of Japan since 2003, Louis Stanfill (Sacramento, Calif.) will start Wednesday’s match alongside young Greg Peterson (Sydney, Australia) in the locks. Cam Dolan (Fort Myers, Fla.), a lock last weekend, will partner Scott LaValla (Bellingham, Wash.) at the flanker position. Al McFarland will wear the No. 8 jersey to round out the forwards.
Shalom Suniula (Auckland, New Zealand) started the Eagles’ opening-round PNC match against Samoa, a narrow defeat at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, and will call the shots as scrum half with Toby L’Estrange (Berkeley, Calif.) behind him at fly half. L’Estrange has missed time with the national team due to injury, with his last appearance in an Eagles shirt coming in the team’s defeat of Uruguay in the second leg of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier last year.
Notable Men’s Eagles Sevens stars Zack Test (Redwood City, Calif.) and Brett Thompson (Tempe, Ariz.) will start on their respective wings outside Andrew Suniula (Auckland, New Zealand) and fellow sevens teammate Folau Niua (East Palo Alto, Calif.) in the centers. At full back, Troy Hall (Portland, Ore.) gets his first start for the U.S. since the 2013 PNC competition.
Despite an early lead at Kingsholm Stadium last fall, the Eagles succumbed to two quick tries around the halftime break in a 40-12 loss to Tonga. Peterson earned his first starting cap in that match, while LaValla captained the side across the pond. In seven all-time meetings, the U.S. has only beaten Tonga once, a 1999 victory in San Francisco.
“It’s been a short week, so training has been about getting the starting team more reps, but in doing that we are trying to constantly improve the way we play the game,” Tolkin said. “There are new faces in this squad, which is good for getting important playing-time experience to all players in the squad.
“You always take away information from teams you play and we did from last time, but besides a few small things, the Tongan team is never predictable in the way they play the game.”
On five points following a bonus-point loss and win in the first two rounds of the PNC, the U.S. trails Fiji by just two standings points in Pool B. After Wednesday’s matches, in which Fiji takes on Japan and Canada plays Samoa, the matchups for the Aug. 3 finals will be made.
Follow live match updates from BMO Field Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. ET on Twitter with @USARugby.
Men’s Eagles
1. Matekitonga Moeakiola
2. Phil Thiel (C)
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
Men’s Eagles | Reserves
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 | v. USA
1. Soane Tonga’uiha
2. Elvis Taione
3. Halani Aulika
4. Uili Kolo’ofa’i
5. Joe Tuineau
6. Steve Mafi (C)
7. Jack Ram
8. Viliami Fihaki
9. Sonatane Takulua
10. Kurt Morath
11. Fetu’u Vainikolo
12. ‘Alipate Fatafehi
13. Sione Puikala
14. Telusa Veainu
15. ‘Otulea Katoa
Tonga | Reserves
16. Sosefo Sakalia
17. Alisona Taumalolo
18. Sila Puafisi
19. Tukulua Lokotui
20. Hale T Pole
21. Sosefo Ma’ake
22. Latiume Fosita
23. Vungakoto Lilo
Men’s Eagles | Pacific Nations Cup
v. Samoa – L 21-16
v. Japan – W 23-18
v. Tonga – Wednesday, July 29 – 3:30 p.m. ET – BMO Field – Toronto, Ontario
Finals Day (matchup/kickoff time TBD) – Monday, Aug. 3 – Swangard Stadium – Burnaby, British Columbia
About USA Rugby
Established in 1975, USA Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby in America and a Full Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee. Currently headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels and has more than 100,000 active members, with more than 35,000 playing collegiate rugby and 35,000 playing senior club rugby. USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes. It also hosts more than 30 national playoff and championship events each year as a service to its members. In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced Rugby Sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Visit www.usarugby.org for more information.
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