Preview | PNC – USA vs Japan – 14/06/14

CARSON, Calif. – Men’s Eagles Head Coach Mike Tolkin has named his team’s starting roster for its opening match of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup against Japan Saturday, June 14, at StubHub Center.

The starting XV features five changes from the Eagles’ starters in last week’s 24-6 loss to Scotland at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, including the return of Samu Manoa at lock. Danny Barrett will earn his first starting cap at blindside flanker and Nick Wallace will partner Olive Kilifi at prop.

Barrett was a member of the Eagles Select XV at the 2013 IRB Americas Rugby Championship in Canada last August.

“We like the way Danny’s progressed,” Tolkin said. “He’s had a great ARC, he’s done really well in sevens, he’s performed for us in camp. So it adds another ball-carrying option for us.

“He’s a good defender, a good, young player. That kind of dictated some of the other moves we had.”

Barrett will start alongside Todd Clever, who will captain the Eagles from openside flanker.

Andrew Suniula will miss the Pacific Nations Cup with an injury sustained in last weekend’s match, though Phil Thiel retains his spot at hooker despite coming out of the match against Scotland with an apparent first-half injury.

Seamus Kelly will take Suniula’s spot at inside center, while Folau Niua will start at outside center.

“At Cal, [Kelly] played a lot of 13, and with the Eagles he’s played a lot of 13,” Tolkin said. “But he’s done some 12 and before college he played a lot of 12 so he’s got a lot of experience at both centers.”

In total, nine of the starting XV currently hold less than 10 international caps, though Cam Dolan and Kelly will earn their 10th caps Saturday.

“Every game, we play the team we believe suits the opposition,” Tolkin said. “That’s how we go about selections. We think we have young players who can step in and a do a job.”

Japan scored six tries, including a penalty try, in a 38-20 win at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo during last year’s Pacific Nations Cup. Clever, who plays professionally for NTT Shining Arcs in Japan’s Top League, earned his 50th cap against Japan.

Japan has won the previous four meetings between the two nations and holds a 7-1-12 all-time record against the Eagles.

Last 10 Games played between the USA and JAPAN
23-Jun-13	Japan	38 – 20	United States
21-Aug-11	Japan	20 – 14	United States
22-Nov-08	Japan	32 – 17	United States
16-Nov-08	Japan	29 – 19	United States
27-Oct-03	Japan	26 – 39	United States
17-May-03	United States	69 – 27	Japan
27-May-00	Japan	21 – 36	United States
12-Jun-99	United States	31 – 47	Japan
13-Jun-98	United States	21 – 25	Japan
10-May-98	Japan	27 – 38	United States
Games Played	20		Games Played	20
*Games Won	12		*Games Won	7
*Games Lost	7		*Games Lost	12
Games Drawn	1		Games Drawn	1
*Longest Winning Streak	4		*Longest Winning Streak	4
*Longest Losing Streak	4		*Longest Losing Streak	4
*Largest Points For	74		*Largest Points For	47
*Largest Points Against	47		*Largest Points Against	74
*Largest Winning Margin	69		*Largest Winning Margin	18
*Largest Losing Margin	-18		*Largest Losing Margin	-69
*Total Points For	585		*Total Points For	443
*Avg Points For	29.25		*Avg Points For	22.15
*Total Points Against	443		*Total Points Against	585
*Avg Points Against	22.15		*Avg Points Against	29.25
*Total Points Difference	142		*Total Points Difference	-142
*Avg Points Difference	7.10		*Avg Points Difference	-7.10
* = By USA			* = By Japan

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