Eagles Playing Pro Catch-Up?
USA Men’s 15s Head Coach Mike Tolkin says he is still leading a mostly amateur team to internationals this November.
While the team Tolkin was able to field against the All Blacks featured nine pros, the team that played Romania and Tonga had far fewer (this was due to a tradeoff USA Rugby made with Aviva Premiership clubs to make the top pros available for the New Zealand game).
Why This Eagles LineupBefore we look at why Mike Tolkin picked the team he did, a little note about Tonga. The Eagles are 1-5 against Tonga, and it’s kind of hard to see why. They have had a better team on paper in most of those games, but somehow didn’t get the victory. Most recently in 2013 in Carson, Calif., they just played badly. Almost everyone played badly.
Eagles for Romania - Stanfill to 50
BUCHAREST, Romania – Louis Stanfill will earn his 50th cap as an Eagle Saturday, Nov. 8, as Mike Tolkin’s squad begins the European leg of its November Tour against Romania at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf.
Important Week Ahead for TolkinSunday is arrival day for the USA players as they prepare to face the mighty All Blacks in less than a week. The USA players, some of whom played this weekend in overseas pro games - Samu Manoa helping Northampton win, Blaine Scully on the wing in Leicester’s loss - will have a regular week to prepare for the #1 team in the world.
Column - Selects Being Seen Still Need to Win
USA Head Coach Mike Tolkin has two jobs in the Americas Rugby Championship, and while he will say that winning is job #1, it’s fair to argue that maybe it shouldn’t be.
