When in doubt, go with what you know. That seems to be the message permeating from Eagle headquarters, or at least Mike Tolkin’s selection criteria. In Canada all paths to national selection tend to lead to Victoria, though that trend appears to be abating somewhat. Denver was once the hotbed of American rugby, but with Tolkin a New Yorker and forwards coach Justin Fitzpatrick based in Seattle, it’s now clearly an advantage to take residence in either of those two spots. It’s certainly not a bad thing to want to centralize your best athletes, but in a country the size of the USA it very quickly alienates your supposed allies when you’re only looking at players from a handful of clubs.
Moving past that the squad is a strange mix of domestic-based Eagles, untested prospects, and random mid-tier journeymen. Tolkin’s desperation to find a capable tighthead prop in the wake of Shawn Pittman’s unexpected retirement means that Olive Kilifi is being asked to have a go after starting at loosehead in the World Cup qualifiers earlier this year. This is fine and dandy save for the fact that both Angus MacLellan and Benjamin Tarr are specialist tightheads presumably fighting for game time. If one is forced to spend time at loosehead, it kind of defeats the purpose of the exercise.
Nick Wallace will start in the no1 jersey with a chance to get some much-needed scrum practice against superior competition. Beside him Phil Thiel has curiously returned from a trial at Saracens, perhaps hinting that his services won’t soon be required at Allianz Park. Zach Fenoglio will again play understudy. At 25 years old he’s hardly ancient but having been around the squad for a couple years now it’s getting about that time when he needs to make a step up.
The second row looks steady enough though it’s disappointing – and surprising – that blue chip prospect Mike Lawrenson has been left out. Why exactly is unclear, it could be university commitments or some complications with his eligibility after a brief ill-advised move to New Zealand this summer. In any case it means a recall for Brian Doyle, once first choice but now comfortably down the pecking order, and Graham Harriman, appearing in his third consecutive ARC tournament. Football convert John Cullen is a surprisingly good athlete and may see time in the back row, though lock appears to be most likely for now.
One wonders what exactly Louis Stanfill has to gain from participating with two World Cups and nearly 50 caps on his resume, but he will certainly help in the experience department. Towering Australian-born back row Matt Trouville at last wears Eagle colours after being involved in training squads for some time. Ben Pinkelman is a project player from this year’s u20 side who has also been training with the 7s side.
Speaking of which Fijian Andrew Durutalo will be in the Gold Coast this weekend but will fly back immediately following to join up with the squad along with Zach Test. Both are standouts on the circuit and Durutalo was involved with the XVs side a couple years ago, but both are essentially specialists at the shortened game now, and won’t have played much, if any, XVs over the past 12 months or so.
Two more exponents of the shortened game will be competing at scrumhalf, and American fans will be praying that either Nate Augspurger or Shalom Suniula has the goods to supplant golden boy Mike Petri in the eyes of Tolkin. Suniula had been playing at flyhalf previously but will get a crack at the no9 jersey where his speed off the mark will be useful. Adam Siddall has thankfully recovered from concussion and will get another chance to build on the good form he had at flyhalf before his injury problems.
The midfield has two strong runners in veteran Andrew Suniula, back after a stint in the UK with Wasps, and South African native Chad London. Kiwi-born Troy Hall has impressed at domestic level for several years but nearing his 33rd birthday has never established himself at test level and is unlikely to force his way into World Cup contention now. Surely a younger player might have been a better option here.
In a similar vein is NYAC clubmate Justin Hundley. Another from South Africa who happens to coach Xavier High, Hundley is a versatile player with previous experience on the 7s circuit but at 30 is no spring chicken it’s hard to see exactly where he fits in. Thankfully there are a couple decent prospects out wide in bulldozing Lemoto Filikitonga and speedster Tim Stanfill (no relation to Louis). Fullback looks to be the role of Tim Maupin who is due to return from Trinity College in Dublin during the week.
On paper the best XV look good enough to give hosts Canada a run for their money, though much will depend on performance at the set piece. The US scrum looks to be the weakest by a considerable margin, an ongoing saga that must be a priority heading towards England. If the Eagles can at least win their own ball and limit mistakes with ball in hand, they can make a decent fist of this tournament. If not, it could be a long ten days for the red, white, and blue.
FIXTURES:
Saturday, October 11 – 14:30 PST – vs Argentina Jaguars
Wednesday, October 15 – 20:00 PST – vs Canada ‘A’
Sunday, October 19 – 14:30 PST – vs Uruguay ‘A’
