TORONTO (USA Rugby) – Former Traverse Bay U19 standout Phil Thiel will captain the USA against Tonga Wednesday in the final pool  match of the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

Head Coach Mike Tolkin has made a number of changes to the side that defeated Japan in Sacramento Friday, July 24, including 13 players in the starting XV. Kickoff from BMO Stadium July 29 is set for 3:30 pm ET, with ESPN3 providing the live broadcast.

Thiel has captained the USA Rugby Selects at the Americas Rugby Championship and brings a wealth of experience from 28 international caps to the team, which also features Mate Moeakiola and debutant Chris Baumann in the front row.

Featured as a late substitute in the first defeat of Japan since 2003, Louis Stanfill will start Wednesday’s match alongside young Greg Peterson in the locks. Cam Dolan, a lock last weekend, will partner Scott LaValla at the flanker position. Al McFarland will wear the No. 8 jersey to round out the forwards.

Shalom Suniula started the Eagles’ opening-round PNC match against Samoa, a narrow defeat at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, and will call the shots as scrum half with Toby L’Estrange behind him at fly half. L’Estrange has missed time with the national team due to injury, with his last appearance in an Eagles shirt coming in the team’s defeat of Uruguay in the second leg of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier last year.

Notable Men’s Eagles Sevens stars Zack Test and Brett Thompson will start on their respective wings outside Andrew Suniula and fellow sevens teammate Folau Niua in the centers. At full back, Troy Hall gets his first start for the U.S. since the 2013 PNC competition.

Despite an early lead at Kingsholm Stadium last fall, the Eagles succumbed to two quick tries around the halftime break in a 40-12 loss to Tonga. Peterson earned his first starting cap in that match, while LaValla captained the side across the pond. In seven all-time meetings, the U.S. has only beaten Tonga once, a 30-10 victory in 1999 in San Francisco.

On five points following a bonus-point loss and win in the first two rounds of the PNC, the U.S. trails Fiji by just two standings points in Pool B. After Wednesday’s matches, in which Fiji takes on Japan and Canada plays Samoa, the matchups for the Aug. 3 finals will be made.

Men's Eagles | v. Tonga
1. Matekitonga Moeakiola
2. Phil Thiel (C)
3. Chris Baumann
4. Louis Stanfill
5. Greg Peterson
6. Cameron Dolan
7. Scott LaValla
8. Al McFarland
9. Shalom Suniula
10. Toby L'Estrange
11. Zack Test
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Folau Niua
14. Brett Thompson
15. Troy Hall

Men's Eagles | Reserves
16. Zach Fenoglio
17. Nick Wallace
18. Eric Fry
19. Hayden Smith
20. Andrew Durutalo
21. Mike Petri
22. Thretton Palamo
23. Tim Stanfill

Tonga | v. USA
1. Soane Tonga'uiha
2. Elvis Taione
3. Halani Aulika
4. Uili Kolo'ofa'i
5. Joe Tuineau
6. Steve Mafi (C)
7. Jack Ram
8. Viliami Fihaki
9. Sonatane Takulua
10. Kurt Morath
11. Fetu'u Vainikolo
12. 'Alipate Fatafehi
13. Sione Puikala
14. Telusa Veainu
15. 'Otulea Katoa

Tonga | Reserves
16. Sosefo Sakalia
17. Alisona Taumalolo
18. Sila Puafisi
19. Tukulua Lokotui
20. Hale T Pole
21. Sosefo Ma'ake
22. Latiume Fosita
23. Vungakoto Lilo