USA coach Peter Thorburn has given Owen Lentz the nod at hooker for his side's World Cup opener against defending champions England in Lens on Saturday.
Lentz has been chosen ahead of Blake Burdette, who started for the Eagles in their warm-up defeat to Munster at the end of August.
Burdette has to be content with a place on the bench, where he will be joined by talented back Valenese Malifa, who could not force his way into the starting line-up.
The US will be captained by Mike Hercus, the outhalf who brings experience to the squad having played for Llanelli and Sale.
The mobile back row of Louis Stanfill, Todd Clever and Henry Bloomfield are expected to cause England problems in the match which is being played at the Stade Felix-Bollaert.
USA: C Wyles; S Sika, P Emerick, V Esikia, T Ngwenya; M Hercus (capt), C Erskine; M MacDonald, O Lentz, C Osentowski, L Gross, M Mangan, L Stanfill, T Clever, H Bloomfield. Replacements: B Burdette, M Moeakiola, A Parker, I Basauri, M Petri, V Malifa, A Tuipulotu.
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