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| Both Thompson and Barrett entered the playing pool in 2014. |
Prop
Prior to the November tour the Eagles had lost Shawn Pittman to retirement leaving their current group of props at Ollie Kilifi, Nick Wallace, Eric Fry, and Titi Lamositele. With Lamositele out with injury for the tour head coach Mike Tolkin brought in Mate Moeakiola, Ben Tarr, and Angus MacLellan. Both Moeakiola and Tarr saw time but only Moeakiola saw significant time. He'll be added to the pool along with Kilifi, Wallace, Fry, who all had their struggles but some positives in November and Lamositele. So in the end when it comes the World Cup the Eagles playing pool is basically where it was at the beginning of the year with one experience prop replaced with another. That said, Kilifi, Wallace, and Lamositele all gained significant experience.
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Hooker
At the beginning of the year only Phil Thiel and Zack Fenoglio were the real options at hooker. After 2014 Fenoglio is firmly on the outside looking in with Tom Coolican taking his place. Thiel started every match for the Eagles in 2014 but Coolican has played well when given an opportunity.
Lock
The Eagles had depth at lock at the start of the year and it only increased. Samu Manoa, Lou Stanfill, Hayden Smith, Tai Tuisamoa, Graham Harriman, and Brian Doyle have all been options and now that has increased to include John Cullen and Greg Peterson. Throw in that Scott LaValla and Todd Clever can play lock the position looks good. Now players like Harriman, Doyle and outsiders like Nick Civetta are nearly out of the conversation. Peterson's emergence has especially been good for the team. There is the potential of him starting along with either Smith, Tuisamoa, or Stanfill with Manoa sliding back into the back-row.
Back-row
The back-row is hard to read in terms of depth. Todd Clever and Scott LaValla are automatic starters but there has been a rotating committee along side them. Cam Dolan had his strong moments in the summer but after he was injured Danny Barrett opened up things for the Eagles. Kyle Sumsion has been an option for awhile but didn't really break through in November when he had a chance. He hasn't worked his way out of the picture and is still very young but it was thought he would make more of a breakout. The only other players to really make an impact were John Quill and Matt Trouville. Quill in particular seems to have put himself in the permanent picture while Derek Asbun, Liam Murphy, and Peter Dahl are out of the playing pool. In the end, Clever, LaValla, Dolan, Quill, Barrett, and Sumsion make a strong pool.
Scrumhalf
Mike Petri was the number one going into the season and remains in the position. Shaun Davies and Nate Augspurger had their chances very early in the season and Augspurger even was with the team in Houston, but neither has stuck around for one reason or another. Robbie Shaw has also fallen completely off. Instead, Shalom Suniula has emerged as the primary back-up to Petri. Injuries meant he also played fly-half but make no mistake, he's looked at as a scrumhalf. At the moment it's really only those two but watch for next year when it's possible that Tom Bliss or Madison Hughes comes into the team.
Fly-half
Heading into 2014 the Eagles had thought they found their fly-half in Adam Siddall with Toby L'Estrange as back-up and/or a starter. Unfortunately, injuries forced both to miss a bunch of time this year and Suniula has taken up some of the slack. Folau Niua even was seen as a possible candidate. Niua is now firmly a center and it's expected that Siddall and L'Estrange will be competing with AJ MacGinty in the new year. So while the team did discover that Suniula can play fly-half the fly-half pool is essentially where it was at the beginning of the year.
Center
Andrew Suniula, Folau Niua, and Seamus Kelly were firmly in the discussion at the beginning of the year and they remain that way. While the team did have Chad London come in during the summer he wasn't included on the fall tour. Instead, Thretton Palamo has been the player to push his way into the player pool. He played so well on the November tour that there are discussions that he could replace Suniula as a regular starter. You could also see Ronnie McLean enter the picture after he played well against Fiji, although it was at fullback.
Wing
Aside from Blaine Scully wing has undergone quite a bit of change. At the beginning of the year it looked like Tim Maupin and Luke Hume would be one of the starting wings at the World Cup. That continued through the summer for a bit until Brett Thompson played very well against Canada. Taku Ngwenya's return means that it will likely come down to Thompson and Ngwenya to see who starts alongside Scully. Tim Stanfill made a name for himself in the fall and will be direct competition with Tim Maupin and Luke Hume (injured ankle), to make the World Cup squad. Overall wing is deeper than at the beginning of the year, that's a positive.
Fullback
Chris Wyles is the player at fullback. That hasn't changed much except that we now know that Niua, and to a certain extent McLean can fill in if needed. In that sense the pool as increased somewhat.