World Cup Preview: Australia v USA
Centres Brent Tate, Josh Morris and Michael Jennings all drop out of the Australian matchday squad, as head coach Tim Sheens recalls the rested Queensland duo Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd.
Maroons prop Matthew Scott also returns, with Robbie Farah the fourth player to miss out from the previous fixture – a 50-nil win over Ireland.
Kangaroos forward James Tamou, enjoyed the trip to Limerick and is looking forward to the challenge of the USA.
He said, “It was good in Ireland, I really enjoyed it. I don’t mind the travelling too much, you get to see the countryside a bit, so it wasn’t too bad.
“I am actually a bit of a fan of the USA for what they have done, and I am quite excited to play them to see what they have got, and how they came to where they are now.”
The Tomahawks, who make one change to their 19 with Mark Cantoni coming in for Judah Lavulo, have not just earnt the praise of Tamou, after shocking the rugby league world with two group stage wins to progress to the knock-out stages.
However, the versatile Tui Samoa wants his team to look at their next match as ‘just another game’.
Samoa said, “I am speechless that we are playing Australia in the quarter-finals, but we have to remember that it is just another game and we have to prepare for that.
“We have just taken everything game-by-game, day-by-day. Australia are the best team in the world, they are always a good team, but we have just got to go out and see what we can do.”
Australia: Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans), Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm), Andrew Fifita (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sutherland-Sharks), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels), Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Brett Morris (St George Illawarra Dragons), Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans), Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders), Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos), Matthew Scott (North Queensland Cowboys), Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm), James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys).
USA: Mark Cantoni (Dalby), Bureta Faramio (Mackay Cutters), Kristian Freed (Racing Club Lescure), Michael Garvey (Pennsylvania Bulls), Roman Hifo (Papakura Sea Eagles), Daniel Howard (Wentworthville Magpies), Stephen Howard (Tuggerong Bushrangers), Haveatama Luani (Wests Tigers), Clint Newton (Penrith Panthers), Mark Offerdahl (AS Carcassone XIII), Joseph Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Matthew Petersen (Cudgen Hornets), Edward Pettybourne (Wests Tigers), Craig Priestly (Southampton Dragons), Tuisegasega Samoa (Redcliffe Dolphins), Matthew Shipway (South Newcastle), Les Soloai (Featherstone Rovers), Lelauloto Tagaloa (Hawaii Chiefs), Taylor Welch (Chicago Griffins).