The New, The Old, And The Injured: Eagle Picks Examined

The New, The Old, And The Injured: Eagle Picks Examined

Alex Goff looks at some of the more interesting picks in the USA Roster of 50.

Jun 13, 2019 by Alex Goff
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World Cup years are weird, because things change in a World Cup year.

After 36 months of talking about the future, the national team coach is usually now in a situation where he talks about the now. That doesn’t mean no more experiments; sometimes it means additional experiments. Those experiments are just of a different type, usually with no more flyers taken on youngsters, and a search for something that's more of a sure thing.

Here are three selection types where USA head coach Gary Gold and general manager Dave Hodges either deviated from what we've been seeing, or have some questions to deal with.

New Faces

We’re always playing that waiting game to see when a player who has moved to the USA and hasn’t been capped at test, sevens, or ‘A’ level elsewhere, is going to achieve residency status. 

That’s very much the case for Riekert Hattingh. The iron-edged No. 8 for Seattle became eligible due to residency on June 1. He’s a really good candidate for the Eagles because plays such a physical game, and Gary Gold needs to win that physical battle. He certainly could play lock or #6 as well as No. 8. The thing about him, more than anything, is that he wants to live in the USA and play for the Eagles. That, above all, means much. Players coming in just to check off “played in a World Cup” and then move on need not apply.

Ross Deacon. That mercenary aspect of American rugby might start to disappear now that there’s a professional league with a little bit of staying power. Ross Deacon may not have any caps for the USA, and may be thought of as an Irishman, but he was born in the USA, and suited up for the USA U20s. A grouchy flanker with a high work rate (like John Quill), that’s what he will be expected to bring to camp.

Ben Pinkelman. Pinky has played for the USA at just about every level. He’s a serious candidate for World Sevens Player Of The Year, and suited up for the USA Selects in 15s. But he has no 15s test caps, yet. A Colorado boy (Cherry Creek HS, Colorado State, Denver Barbarians), Pinkelman is a hard-working flanker with a ton of skills and a strong engine. And he’s been in high-pressure situations before.


Eagles Williams And Pinkelman Showcase Skills



Jamason Fa'anana Shultz. One more loose forward, Fa'anana Shultz qualifies for the USA because of his dad. He helped spark a bit of a late resurgence for the Houston SaberCats. He’s another player who has come from overseas, but with a strong reason to stay.

The Return Of …

Where’s this guy been? You see someone play, and then his disappears. Sometimes there’s a falling out, sometimes it’s injury, sometimes something else.

Some guys you may (or should) remember:

Mikey Sosene-Feagai. A really skilled hooker who seemed to be ready to step in, Sosene-Feagai was picked by John Mitchell, and when Mitchell moved on, Sosene-Feagai drifted out of the picture. Now he’s back, providing much-needed depth at hooker (which was a real concern earlier this year). Is he a one-World-Cup-and-done guy? We’ll see.

Siaosi Mahoni. A massive cement block of a man, Mahoni is still young, and really was just left alone to work on his game and get some time at a lower level. (Notice Mahoni in the background with our Mike Te'o video above).

Thretton Palamo. Injuries have kept Palamo out, and he was moving around when the coaches were moving around. The timing has been a bit off, but the hope is that it will finally come together this summer.

Paddy Ryan. Ryan proved his quality through two seasons in the MLR, after what seemed to this writer to be a shaky start with the USA in 2017. Sometimes coaches and observers seem to think just because a player plays professionally overseas, he’s a finished product, and just because a guy learned his rugby in the USA, he’s not. Well, Ryan needed more time, and he benefited from playing in the MLR, and deserves another look as a result.

Lou Stanfill. Wait, what? It’s back to the future. It’s a blast from the past. It’s the guy who scored two tries in the (checks notes) 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was capped before David Ainu’u was in 1st grade. His last USA game was in the 2015 Rugby World Cup (he’s played nine such games). But he retired, decided to run Rugby NorCal. So what gives? He got the itch, pulled on a San Diego Legion jersey, and he can play. 


Here’s the thing you need to know about a Rugby World Cup year. Coaches don’t want surprises. Coaches don’t want uncontrollable to hurt them. Lou Stanfill guards against that. He’s grouchy, physical, smart, hungry, big, and can play 4-5-6-8. He won’t get flustered. He’s a team guy. 

Mike Petri. Oh man, now it’s getting freaky here. Petri was done. Petri was going to teach and chill and maybe play a little rugby on the side. Then the pro team came to NYC, and of course Petri helped them to the playoffs because he’s won on every domestic team he’s played for. Like Stanfill, he brings a fully-knowable quality to the USA team. He can pass, kick, tackle (he is probably the best tackling scrumhalf the USA has ever had), and he won’t get flustered. A team guy? No one is more of a team guy.

The Injuries

Samu Manoa is playing in the Major League Rugby final, but his left leg is all strapped up and you wonder how healthy he is. If I’m Gary Gold I am thinking I sit him down for June and July and then see where we are.


Several of these guys are carrying injuries. Most are not serious, or if they were, they are close to getting better. So we won’t see everyone immediately in the PNC. 

Ollie Kilifi, who came on with a heroic few minutes against Canada in March, may be late arriving. Eric Fry and Titi Lamositele were hurt but are coming back. Notice all three or props. That's a concern.

Hanco Germishuys is coming back from injury, while Dylan Audsley wasn’t even named in the group as he’s had surgery.

We might still see him. Thretton Palamo, mentioned above, broke his hand and is working his way back (timing, again).