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The US is in Pool C with New Zealand, Wales, and Tonga.
It’ll be the second hit-out for Al Caravelli’s new look team following the departure of key players.
World Cup co-captains Chris Wyles and Todd Clever are now missing from the squad along with Takudzwa Ngwenya, while there are other notable injury omissions in Adelaide in James Gillenwater and Nese Malifa, but it is an extra credit to the coach that the new generation is good enough to immediately fall into place, adopt the same work ethic and compete in the same way.
"We want to try and make the Cup quarterfinals in every tournament, and we were disappointed in Hong Kong," said Caravelli.
"The tougher the pool, the greater the rewards and I think that by putting these youngsters into that environment they'll either sink or swim, and I'm positive they will swim."
Having been groomed for the job, 22-year-old Kevin Swiryn has now taken over the captain's armband from Wyles, as well as the crucial center position, and is setting about casting his own influence and inspirational qualities on the team.
"I'd already planned on Kevin taking over the centre spot and Chris (Wyles), not only did he lead in terms of being captain but also in tackles, three times as many as any other player on the squad because of the way we work our defence, and I think that Kevin's ready to rise to that," added Caravelli.
Matt Hawkins and Mark Bokhoven offer Swiryn experience in the forwards and Jone Naciqa an enduring quality in the backs but he will also ask a lot of young wings Justin Boyd and Thretton Palamo, the two Suniula brothers Roland and Shalom, as well as exciting newcomer Zach Pangelinan.
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