Wyles set for milestone
The Eagles final World Cup warm-up match, presented by Astellas, will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
Under contract at Saracens Wyles began his USA career eight years ago at wing, and has played in two World Cups. No stranger to any of the backline positions with his club side, the USA captain will wear the No.11 jersey opposite fellow two-time World Cup participant Takudzwa Ngwenya.
Blaine Scully, vice captain and holder of 25 caps heading into the weekend’s match, will start his second consecutive match at fullback following the Eagles’ defeat to Harlequins at PPL Park in Philadelphia last weekend.
"Blaine was solid [on Sunday] and his performance allowed us to play Chris at a position that he has played most of the season with Sarries, and at which he feels very comfortable," Eagles head coach Mike Tolkin said.
Zach Fenoglio was one of 11 substitutes used against Harlequins, and returns to the front row between Eric Fry and Titi Lamositele. Greg Peterson, who scored his first try in a USA shirt in a 23-41 defeat of Canada – the Eagles' third consecutive victory over the border rival – last month, will again partner Cam Dolan in the second row.
Samu Manoa will start his second consecutive Eagles match at the back of the scrum after missing the Pacific Nations Cup tournament due to preseason commitments with his new club, Toulon of France's Top 14. Andrew Durutalo and Al McFarland round out the back row.
Ranked second in the world, Australia visits the United States for just the third time in more than 100 years. With more than 700 caps amongst the 23-player Wallabies side – including one player without an international appearance – the Eagles' opponent has won three of its past four Tests against Top 10 ranked nations.
Additionally, Saturday’s run-out will be the Eagles’ final match before their World Cup opener against Samoa.
"This will indicate where we are," Tolkin said of the USA's second match in less than a year at Soldier Field.
"Win, lose, or draw, we want to see a quality performance over 80 minutes, where the opposition feels pressured on both sides of the ball all game. Whatever the outcome, if we can do that, we will have had a successful final tune-up match.
"No matter the lineup that Australia put out, it will be very talented – but if we want to consider ourselves a team who is on the rise in world rugby, then we need to stand up to them."
United States: 15 Blaine Scully, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Chris Wyles (captain), 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6 Al McFarland, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Cameron Dolan, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Zach Fenoglio, 1 Eric Fry.
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Louis Stanfill, 20 John Quill, 21 Danny Barrett, 22 Shalom Suniula, 23 Folau Niua.
Date: Saturday, September
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
Kick-off: 18.30 (23.30 GMT; 09.40, Sunday, September 6 AEST)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Joaquín Montes (Argentina), Dave Smortchevsky (Canada)
TMO: Andrew McMaster (Canada)
