This is it for the Eagles in 2014 as they get set to take on Fiji on Friday. The players are only going to have one more chance to impress the Eagles coaching staff before things really heat up next summer in preparation for the World Cup. So far head coach Mike Tolkin has been fairly steady in his selections against Romania and Tonga with most of the changes only coming as a result of injury. However, with just the match left against Fiji it may be time of Tolkin to shake things up and try out some different players. Here's who we think might get a look.
Prop: Nick Wallace, Mate Moeakiola, Ben Tarr, Angus MacLellan
Once again prop is a talking point for the Eagles. Depending on whether Ollie Kilifi is available the team could very well start both Wallace and Moeakiola again. Both have been solid in the open field and defensively but they have struggled in the scrum. It's not all on the props as to whether the scrum succeeds but they are the cornerstone. Needing a solid result we think that it would be extremely unlikely that either Tarr or MacLellan starts but both remain as back-up options.
Thiel has been better the last few weeks but also looks tired. Coolican has done some nice things when he's been on the pitch and we think he'll get the start this weekend.
Lock: Lou Stanfill, Greg Peterson, John Cullen, Tai Tuisamoa
Lock presents some of the biggest selection headaches for Tolkin. Of the group Peterson has probably shown the most even though he has been with the team a short time. He's great on defense and he moves the ball well. We think he starts but who starts with him is a question. Cullen and Tuisamoa have done well in their opportunities while Stanfill is a veteran presence the team could probably use. We think that coming off a week of rest Stanfill gets the nod.
Back-row: Todd Clever, Scott LaValla, Kyle Sumsion, John Quill, Matt Trouville
After coming off the bench last week Clever should slide back into the starting line-up and resume his captaincy. LaValla is an automatic starter so the question will be who is the last member of the back-row. Quill and Trouville have each started twice so far and done reasonably well but we think that both make way for Kyle Sumsion. The BYU product was one of, if not the, best player for the Eagles at the ARC and has done well in every opportunity he's had. It was a bit surprising that he didn't start against Romania or Tonga so we think he gets the chance this week.
Scrumhalf: Mike Petri
Petri is the only real option at scrumhalf and will almost certainly start. It's possible that Shalom Suniula could see time but Petri didn't play in the ARC and getting one more game in before the break is valuable.
Fly-half: Adam Siddall, Shalom Suniula
Like at prop, things could change is Adam Siddall is healthy and ready to go. If that's the case then he starts over Shalom Suniula not only because he's grown in his role at fly-half but also because of his kicking. If he isn't healthy, which is certainly possible given that he's had concussion issues in the past, than Suniula will start.
Wing: Tim Stanfill, Taku Ngwenya, Tim Maupin
Ngwenya's return to the team should put him back in the starting line-up. He was fantastic against Romania and simply makes the Eagles more dangerous when he plays. The big question will be whether Tim Stanfill or Tim Maupin starts. Stanfill can't stop scoring but has also been caught out of position at times. Maupin is the better defensive player but had some huge gaffes last week. In this instance you can't go against the player that is hot in Stanfill.
Center: Andrew Suniula, Thretton Palamo, Seamus Kelly
With two matches under his belt since returning from injury we think that Palamo gets the start against Fiji in favor of Seamus Kelly. It's possible that it's Suniula that gives way but he's played better than Kelly so far this tour.
Fullback: Tim Maupin
Niua has returned to the U.S. to re-join the Eagles 7s team meaning the U.S. are going to have to find another fullback and another kicker if Siddall is still hurt. It's very possible that the U.S. drafts in another player like a Ronnie McLean or Shalom Suniula (it could be Suniula) but there aren't really many nearby players that fit the mold. Really only Conor Kearns of Trinity fits the description but it would be difficult to throw in a young player like that in a crucial role against Fiji. Most likely Tim Maupin will slide into the job.
1. Nick Wallace
2. Tom Coolican
3. Mate Moeakiola
4. Greg Peterson
5. Lou Stanfill
6. Todd Clever
7. Scott LaValla
8. Kyle Sumsion
9. Mike Petri
10. Adam Siddall
11. Tim Stanfill
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Thretton Palamo
14. Taku Ngwenya
15. Tim Maupin
16. Phil Thiel
17. Ben Tarr
18. Angus MacLellan
19. Tai Tuisamoa
20. John Quill
21. Shalom Suniula
22. Seamus Kelly
23. Roland Suniula