Sione Fukofuka has selected this team to represent the States in the big première:
15 LOTTE SHARP 14 EMILY HENRICH 13 ILONA MAHER 12 ALEV KELTER 11 BULOU MATAITOGA 10 MCKENZIE HAWKINS 9 OLIVIA ORTIZ 1 HOPE ROGERS 2 KATHRYN TREDER 3 KEIA-MAE SAGAPOLU 4 TAHLIA BRODY 5 ERICA JARRELL-SEARCY 6 KATE ZACKARY (captain) 7 GEORGIE PERRIS-REDDING 8 RACHEL JOHNSON
16 PAIGE STATHOPOULOS 17 ALIVIA LEATHERMAN 18 CHARLI JACOBY 19 RACHEL EHRICKE 20 FREDA TAFUNA 21 CASS BARGELL 22 KRISTIN BITTER 23 SARIAH IBARRA
The team contains some outstanding athletes (Rogers, Zackary, Johnson, Kelter), but not enough of them. The battle between the evergreen Rogers and Maud Muir should rattle a few timbers.
The staff’s job has been to raise the levels of Individual and unit skills beyond anything we’ve known before. Indeed that will be one of the great fascinations throughout the tournament.
A typical case would be McKenzie Hawkins at No 10. Can she add to her extensive repertoire to ensure her backs get more and quicker ball? And can she avoid those little slips that have occurred now and again?
A name to look for on the bench is one of the younger generation, Freda Tafuna.
For England fans it will be intriguing to see Lotte Sharp back at 15 again.
Fukofuka has set out his and the team’s approach sensibly. They know they are up against it, but have been training hard and fully deserve their places in the side on this special evening.
We wish them luck.
