USA 7s: Preview

Pool A: New Zealand, USA, Russia, South Africa

There's an air of inevtiablity about New Zealand being firm favourites to win this pool and with Honey Hireme returning to a sevens shirt after almost a year out and with Kayla McAlister in blistering form after her return from injury, they will be the team to beat as always. Coach Sean Horan also includes three other changes with Alexis Tapsell, Morgan Morrow and Michaela Blyde stepping in.

South Africa follow a well trodden path of choosing names from other sports to try their hand at sevens with Sunelle Barnard making her debut having transferred from provincial netball. The only other change from the side that finished bottom in Sao Paulo is the inclusion of of Sinazo Nobele. After a poor outing last time around, which has resulted in a low ranking and a very tough pool for the Springboks, they will be targeting the bowl tournament on the second day.

Hosts USA include Bui Baravilala and debutant Kate Zackary in their two changes and they will be looking to continue the improvements that saw them move from 7th in Dubai to beaten Plate finalists in Brazil - an improvement of a single place, but the result of a very noticable performance improvement that, if it were not for a remarkable dropped ball when over the line in their quarter-final with New Zealand, could have been sensationally better. They also managed sixth place on home soil last year out and will be aiming to at least match that this year.

Although they have reached two quarter-finals, Russia have disappointed so far with an eighth in Dubai and seventh in Brazil. However in the opening rounds they have also introduced some new names, and it is clear that coach Baronovsky has a long term plan for his twice-European champions that perhaps sees the World Series as a means to a greater end. Beating New Zealand may be out of their range, at present, but they will almost certainly make their third quarter final and second place finish in this pool is entirely possible.

USA squad:Megan Bonny, Kelly Griffin (captain), Kathryn Johnson, Bui Baravilala, Jessica Javelet, Kristen Thomas, Victoria Folayan, Alev Kelter, Hannah Lopez, Kate Zackary, Joanne Fa'avesi, Lauren Doyle.

South Africa squad:Sunelle Barnard, Siviwe Basweni, Phumeza Gadu, Rachelle Geldenhuys, Nosiphiwo Goda, Zenay Jordaan (captain), Jacqueline Kriel, Sinazo Nobele, Fundiswa Plaatjie, Marithy Pienaar, Mathrin Simmers, Zaandre Theron.

New Zealand squad:Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Sarah Goss (captain), Honey Hireme, Kayla McAlister, Morgan Morrow, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Alexis Tapsell, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Selica Winiata, Portia Woodman

Russia squad TBC.

Pool B: Australia, France, Fiji, Spain

Having finished in the runners up position in both Dubai and Sao Paulo, Australia will be desperate to go one better this time around.

Tim Walsh has made just one change to his squad with Brooke Walker coming in for Nikki Etheridge.The 19-year-old joined the squad earlier this year and is a former touch player who helps drive the average age of the Australian squad down even further to just 22.  Australia played some sublime rugby in Brazil and a title win here would certainly liven up the series.

France have been a breath of fresh air this season, finishing in the top four in the opening two rounds and making marked improvements over the last few months. They have kept a familiar looking squad with coaches David Courteix and Eric Lombarteix making only two changes for Atlanta.Jade le Pesq and Chloé Pelle are in the squad for the first time this season - though both have plenty of previous sevens experience. They come in for Lina Guérin and Audrey Amiel - almost certainly a case of squad rotation. France are good enough to not only reach the quarters but even win the group, but 'have a tendency to start tournaments slowly, as a result of which both Fiji and Spain represent significant potential banana skins. Overall their aim will be continue to finish ahead of England, strengthening their grip on the vital fourth place ranking.

Fiji continue to show huge potential, but also continue to lack consistency. They can scare even the best teams, but have yet to land the killer blow needed to break into the top half of the rankings. Blessed with a huge player base that knows sevens inside out, their only real problem remains a lack of experience, which is in return the result of a lack of resources at home. Will Atlanta be the tournament where they at last break through? We think it may be a little too early, but without question their time will come.

After years of being one of the premier teams in sevens, suddenly the rest of the world seems to have caught up with the Spanish - and even overtaken them. Getting back to their old level will be all the more difficult in Atlanta with Patricia Garcia missing with a broken hand. As a result it seems unlikely that they will make the quarters this time around.

Australia squad:Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Chloe Dalton, Ellia Green, Shannon Parry, Evania Pelite, Tiana Penitani, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato, Amy Turner, Brooke Walker, Sharni Williams (captain)

France squad:Pauline Biscarat, Camille Grassineau, Elodie Guiglion, Fanny Horta (captain), Shannon Izar, Caroline Ladagnous, Christelle le Duff, Jade le Pesq, Laurianne Lissar, Marjorie Mayans, Chloé Pelle, Jennifer Troncy.

FIji Squad TBC

Spain Squad TBC

Pool C: England, Canada, Brazil, China

The good news for England is that Emily Scarratt is back from injury and will add considerable fire-power to an England side struggling to break into the top four this season.England are four points(the equivalent of two tournament places)behind France in the race for the final qualifying place for Rio 2016 after winning the Plate in both Dubai and Sao Paulo, and have to start making semi-finals if they are to overhaul them. Although a quarter final place may not be a problem, their clash with Canada will be vital if they are to avoid another last eight game with Australia or New Zealand.

There are three changes for Canada as John Tait's side try and break into the top two.Brittany Benn and Natasha Watcham-Roy will both make their series debuts. The other change sees Elissa Alarie return to the squad, having missed the last round due to injury.Stepping up from a perennial third place finish to the final will be their target - but they have not managed that since Amsterdam in 2013.

Brazil impressed on day one in their home tournament, defeating Fiji and China and they will want to build on that performance here where they will target a win against China at the very least, but at their best they have the potential to grab second place in this pool such has been their improvement in the past year. Another quarter-final should be more than possible.

China may be improving - they are a far more physical team than they used to be - but they still struggle to keep up with the rest of the tournament. As a result it's hard to see them competing for anything other than the bowl. For China the World Series is undoubtedly all about developing the experience needed to win the vital Asian qualifier later this year - something that is far from a given.

Canada squad:Elissa Alarie, Brittany Benn, Bianca Farella, Julia Greenshields, Jennifer Kish (captain), Ghislaine Landry, Mandy Marchak, Kayla Moleschi, Karen Paquin, Kelly Russell, Ashley Steacy, Natasha Watcham-Roy

England squad: Rachael Burford, Abi Chamberlain (captain), Amy Wilson-Hardy, Natasha Hunt, Sarah McKenna, Marlie Packer, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt, Michaela Staniford, Danielle Waterman, Joanne Watmore, Natasha Brennan.

China squad TBC

Brazil squad TBC