Why these guys? That's always the question with the USA National team, and it's a good one. We'll try to answer.
Some players have not been picked due to injury. Key among those is prop Titi Lamositele. Some have club availability issues (Chris Baumann). Some other players have been passed over because, in the opinion of the coaches and GM Dave Hodges, the Eagles need something else (Matt Jensen?).
But we have also seen the return of a few players who we've not seen in a long time, and a few new faces, as well.
Why They Were Picked, The Forwards:
Props
Dino Waldren showed flashes of ability in the summer and scrums very well. He's logged starts for London Scottish in England's 2nd division and that regular game time is only making him better. It's about time a Saint Mary's prop takes over up front. Paddy Ryan had an iffy start for the Eagles against Ireland and Canada, but he's an experienced professional, and that experience will be valuable.
Olive Kilifi has also been around the block. If he can watch his turnovers in contact he'll be fine.
Eric Fry is a bit of a blast from the past. After being a regular Eagle for five years, he was essentially dropped, playing one game (as a sub) since March, 2016.
But Fry is a hard-worker, a smart player, and has been getting regular time with RC Vannes in France's D2.
Hookers
Peter Malcom captained the USA Selects in the Americas Pacific Challenge and did a very good job there as a leader, and a player. He's powerful in contact, and should be crucial in the set piece.
Joe Taufete'e was a late addition to the squad, and he's a monster. Taufete'e runs well, especially through contact, and is a solid presence in the scrum. Could be it all comes down to who's throwing better in the lineout.
He also knows how to finish off a maul ... or three.
Locks
Nick Civetta has emerged as the kind of lock the USA needs. He's tall - and there's a lack of height in the USA lock pool - he's strong on defense, and he does the little things well. Greg Peterson is a bit of a loose cannon at times, but that can be useful when it's a war in the breakdowns. An experience pro, he will set the tone.
Nate Brakeley can play lock or flank, as can Ben Landry. Both are physical, good in the lineout, and can win ball in the breakdown. Brakeley is a bit more of an open-field player, Landry maybe a shade stronger. David Tameilau is listed as a lock. The big knock on him was, in the past, fitness, has probably been addressed, but it has turned out he's more of a lock than a loose forward.
Loose Forwards
Once again the Eagles are very deep here. Players who showed well at the APC have some tough competition to get past to make this squad. It's great that Samu Manoa can play, because that appeared to be in doubt. Cam Dolan may well be the USA's best back-rower, and in John Quill and Tony Lamborn the Eagles have experienced and opportunistic players.
And how can you argue for those guys to start, when Andrew Durutalo has been playing so well for Ealing (and now Worcester)? Durutalo plays good defense, poaches the ball well, and can run.
As we said, there's a ton of competition for spots, and coming out of the Americas Pacific Challenge, any player looking to be a flanker or No. 8 would have to be pretty impressive to get a look.
The Eagles could have gone with Matt Jensen, a lock, with an eye toward having Brakeley or Tameilau be more of a back-rower. But instead the nod went to Hanco Germishuys. That makes a ton of sense. He's young, he's a specialist flanker (although you wonder if he's a backup hooker, too), and he showed against Canada A that he won't be denied.
Take your pick - Germishuys, Lamborn, Dolan; or Durutalo, Quill, Manoa; or another combination, you'll be OK.