USA and new Northampton Saints lock/No. 8 Samu Manoa defended his absence from the USA team in the current assembly and the World Cup in a post on his Facebook page Monday.

Manoa wished the Eagles good luck and said "unfortunately due to some misunderstandin[g] an miscommunication yo boy can't make it."

Manoa also indicated that those judging his decision to stay with the Saints was based on not knowing the whole story.

"I didn't flake out on the EAGLES," he said, adding that he decided on what was best for his family.

Manoa signed a contract that provides incentives for game time. He signed it with an unofficial understanding that he would be available for the UK professional club during the World Cup.