Todd Clever
USA captain Todd Clever will make a welcome return to the starting XV when the Eagles conclude their November tour against Fiji in Vannes, France on Saturday.
Another inclusion into the starting XV will see Ronald McLean earn his first International cap at fullback after he joined the team ahead of their 12-40 loss to Tonga last week.
Taku Ngwenya will look to add to his international try tally when he starts on the wing while Tim Stanfill, who has scored a try in two consecutive matches to begin his young international career, will earn his fourth cap.
Thretton Palamo and Seamus Kelly will hope to create chances from the center positions. Palamo’s second start since returning to the game, will be his fifth cap since making his Eagles debut at the 2007 World Cup.
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Mike Petri and Shalom Suniula return to scrumhalf and flyhalf, respectively. Tim Maupin, Andrew Suniula, and Roland Suniula provide head coach Mike Tolkin with options at the back from the bench.
In the front row, Olive Kilifi has recovered from an injury sustained following the Eagles’ 27-17 win against Romania, to warrant a 10th cap. Mate Moeakiola will start at tighthead outside Phil Thiel, who is making his 11th consecutive Eagles start at hooker dating back to November 2013.
Rookie starters in last weekend’s loss, John Cullen and Greg Peterson take up their positions in the second row, while Scott LaValla, of nearby Stade Français, and John Quill will start as flanks. Todd Clever played nearly 20 minutes from the bench in Gloucester and returns to the Eagles as captain at No 8.
United States: 15 Ronald McLean, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Tim Stanfill, 10 Shalom Suniula, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Todd Clever (Captain), 7 John Quill, 6 Scott LaValla, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 John Cullen, 3 Mate Moeakiola, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Olive Kilifi
Replacements: 16 Tom Coolican, 17 Nick Wallace, 18 Benjamin Tarr, 19 Matt Trouville, 20 Kyle Sumsion, 21 Roland Suniula, 22 Andrew Suniula, 23 Tim Maupin.
Date: Friday 21 November
Venue: Stade De La Rabine, Vannes
Kick-Off: 20:00 SA Time (19:00 French Time, 13:00 EST, 07:00 Saturday Fiji Time)
Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Gary Conway (Ireland)
TMO: Iain Ramage (Scotland)