The Eagles are headed to Houston with 28 players to face Scotland. Soon head coach Mike Tolkin is going to have to narrow his roster down to 23 players. Some of the players to make the final cut are pretty clear. For instance Mike Petri is the only scrumhalf on the roster and Chris Wyles is the only fullback. That said, several positions, including lock, center, wing, and prop have a number of players fighting for time Here is who we think might get the nod. As always, it's just guessing.
Prop is one of the biggest battles on team. Tolkin brought five players--Eric Fry, Olive Kilifi, Titi Lamositele, Shawn Pittman, and Nick Wallace--and it's likely that four will make the gameday roster. It's a tough decision because all five have been starters at one point in their careers and all five bring different elements to the game. Some players excel in the scrum while some excel in the open field. Scotland isn't the same scrummaging team as Ireland and Italy which may play a factor into the eventual decision. If that is the case look for Eric Fry and Shawn Pittman, the go-to starters over the last few years--to get the selection. If scrumming is emphasized it's not out of the question to see Kilifi start again but at the same time left off the team all together if they go with field play.
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Lock is another position with several players angling for time. Samu Manoa is making the trip and is a lock (pun intended) to start. Hayden Smith, Lou Stanfill, and Tai Tuisamoa are the other options at the position. Smith and Stanfill are the most experienced but Tuisamoa offers a level of physicality that could shock the Scots. When he was paired with Manoa against Russia last year they were devastating. However, the strength of the Scotland teams lies in their locks and Tolkin may want to put out his most experienced squad. That would mean Manoa and Smith. It's unlikely that both Stanfill and Tuisamoa make the bench and given Stanfill's versatility being able to play in the back-row look he probably gets the nod.
In the backs the battle from fly-half, center, and wing should be intense. Folau Niua and Shalom Suniula are the current options at fly-half. With Suniula also providing cover at scrumhalf and potentially fly-half it seems logical that he starts on the bench in case something happens to Petri or Niua.
On the wings Blaine Scully is an automatic starter but it will be between Tim Maupin, Luke Hume, and Miles Craigwell to see who starts. If Tolkin is going for defense he is going to pick Maupin but if he wants to shake it up on offense Hume is the option. With Scotland having very deep backs we think that Maupin starts with Hume on the bench.
In the centers Tolkin is also faced with interesting choices. Andrew Suniula should get the start at inside center and if Niua is playing fly-half then Seamus Kelly should start at outside center. However, if Tolkin elects to start Shalom Suniula at fly-half it could mean Niua slides into the centers. Then there would be an interesting choice between him and Kelly. That said, we think that Niua is fly-half and Kelly starts. It will be between Chad London and Troy Hall to be the back-up with only one spot likely on the bench. London seems in the best form at the moment.
Of the two remaining spots on the team--hooker and back-row--the decisions are pretty straight forward. Phil Thiel will start at hooker while Tom Coolican will be on the bench. In the back-row Todd Clever, Scott LaValla, and Cam Dolan will all start barring something crazy. Danny Barrett and Kyle Sumsion are the back-ups at if past selection is any indication than Sumsion will probably be on the bench.
1. Shawn Pittman
2. Phil Thiel
3. Eric Fry
4. Samu Manoa
5. Hayden Smith
6. Todd Clever
7. Scott LaValla
8. Cam Dolan
9. Mike Petri
10. Folau Niua
11. Tim Maupin
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Seamus Kelly
14. Blaine Scully
15. Chris Wyles
16. Nick Wallace
17. Titi Lamositele
18. Tom Coolican
19. Lou Stanfill
20. Kyle Sumsion
21. Shalom Suniula
22. Chad London
23. Luke Hume
Missing out: Barrett, Kilifi, Hall, Craigwell, Tuisamoa