WREXHAM, Wales – The USA Men’s U-20 Team set its lineup for the second round of matches at the IRB Junior World Championships in Wales. The junior Eagles will take on Samoa at 5 p.m. (BST) on Tuesday, June 10 at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

“The game film clearly showed weaknesses in our tackling and ability to put South Africa on the floor,” Coach Salty Thompson said of his team’s most recent loss against South Africa. “We also had too many unforced turnovers.

“We've worked hard to improve our tracking and footwork in the tackle. We've also got a better team understanding and organization of our phase play offense. The team is making better decisions on and off the ball.

“The focus tomorrow against Samoa has to be team defense,” Thompson added. “Samoa will spread the field and be elusive on the ball. They are gifted players who are extremely dangerous going forward.  We need to play with discipline, commitment and structure.”

The Samoans, buoyed by their first success against top tier European opposition, have made a number of changes, particularly in the forwards, although they keep faith with twins Alvin and Aaron Smith in the centre with Sanele Vavae Tuilagi starting on the wing with Tupou switching to full back.

Salty Thompson, by contrast, has not rung so many personnel changes, although a number of players do switch positions with Kevin Erskine moving to the back row and Nate Ebner coming in from full back to centre outside Thretton Palamo, the youngest ever player to play in the Rugby World Cup after his appearance against the Springboks last year.

The U.S. U-20 Team includes:

15. Tim Moxness (University of Arizona)
14. Adam Ducoing (Louisiana State)
13. Nate Ebner (Ohio State University)
12. Thretton Palamo (Biarritz, France)
11. Zach Test (Univ. of Oregon)
10. Ty Siceloff (Bristol University)
9. Sean Treacy (Clontarf, Ireland)
1. Stevie Johnston (Tempe Rugby)
2. Bill Wynne (ASU)
3. Shawn Pittman (Golden Gate)
4. Scott Metcalf (Univ. of Utah)
5. Scott Lavalla (Trinity College) Captain
6. Liam Murphy (Young Munster – Ireland)
7.Kevin Erskine (Tempe, Ariz.)
8. Taylor Mokate (Univ. of Oklahoma)

Replacements
16. Mike Shepherd (Brownsburg, Ind.)
17. Max Paganini (Purdue)
18. Teddy Barron (Harvard, Mass.)
19. Ryan Mctiernan (NYAC)
20. Austin Cella (Garryowen, Ireland)
21. Steven Sablan (PAC)
22. Gareth Jones (Temple Univ.)

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