Niku Kruger

USA Eagles coach Mike Tolkin has made 12 changes to the starting line-up that lost to Scotland, for their clash against South Africa on Wednesday.

Only twice have the Eagles made more changes between Rugby World Cup matches, having made 14 changes between their 2nd and 3rd, and between their 3rd and 4th, matches in 2011 in New Zealand.

Only Phil Thiel, Samu Manoa and Blaine Scully have retained their place in the starting line-up from the Scotland match.

The matchday 23 includes 7 players who have not played in the Rugby World Cup 2015 so far. 5 Of them – Louis Stanfill, Matthew Trouville, Niku Kruger, Zach Test and Andrew Suniula – will start and 2 others – Joe Taufetee and Mate Moeakiola – are on the bench.

The match will be a big occasion for Kruger who was born in South Africa.

“Niku will be thrilled to be in his 1st World Cup match and playing versus South Africa,” Tolkin said. “He is a young man with a lot of potential and it is great that our young talent is getting an opportunity to play and gain valuable experience.”

Trouville, Kruger and Test will make their Rugby World Cup debuts, while Taufetee could do the same by coming on as a replacement.

If he comes off the bench, Moeakiola, aged 37, will become the 3rd oldest player to represent USA at the Rugby World Cup, behind flyhalf Mark Williams (38 in 1999) and prop Fred Paoli (37 in 1991). He would also become the 8th USA player to feature in 3 Rugby World Cups.

Stanfill will equal a team record with his 3rd Rugby World Cup participation, something 6 Eagles have achieved before him, including Chris Wyles, Mike Petri and Takudzwa Ngwenya.

Manoa will captain the Eagles for the 1st time in his Test career.

USA Eagles: 15 Blaine Scully, 14 Brett Thompson, 13 Folau Niua, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Zach Test, 10 Shalom Suniula, 9 Niku Kruger, 8 Samu Manoa (Captain), 7 John Quill, 6 Danny Barrett, 5 Matthew Trouville, 4 Louis Stanfill, 3 Chris Baumann, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Oli Kilifi
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufetee, 17 Zach Fenoglio, 18 Mate Moeakiola, 19 Titi Lamositele, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Al McFarland, 22 Mike Petri, 23 Chris Wyles.

Date: Wednesday 7 October
Venue: Olympic Stadium, London
Kick-Off: 17:45 SA Time (16:45 BST, 15:45 GMT, 11:45 EDT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

rugby365