The hooker is only too aware of the difficulties facing a squad sprinkled with allotment-time players but,buoyed by a warm welcome on the south coast, says the USA are upbeat about their campaignPrior to their World Cup opener against Samoa in Brighton on Sunday, and the US Eagles visited Admiral Nelson’s flagship,HMS Victory. For the nautically bearded hooker Phil Thiel, one of the doughtiest ships of the line in a squadron commanded by the coach Mike Tolkin, or the trip might better possess been made to another vessel: HMS Dauntless.“The people of Portsmouth possess been excellent,” Thiel said of the Americans’ welcome on the south coast. “We were able to tour HMS Victory and possess a meal there as well, and it was fantastic to be a allotment of such a historically significant place.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com