Lineups for Women’s Super Series Round 1

The teams for Round 1 of the Women’s Rugby Super Series have been named, with the tournament kicking off at Calgary Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon. All games will be streamed live at the link below:

http://www.livestream.com/rugbycanadaofficial

 

 

USA v ENGLAND
16:00 local, 22:00 UTC

Veteran prop Sarah Chobot will lead the Eagles out for the first time, with fellow World Cup front row mates Katy Augustyn and Hope Rogers lined up beside her. Flyhalf Kimber Rozier is the only other returnee from the run-on team that lost to New Zealand in Paris. Deven Owsiany is promoted to starting scrumhalf, while Stacey Bridges wins a recall to add experience in the second row.

Outside centre Jane Paar, reserve lock Molly Kinsella and reserve scrumhalf Jennifer Lui are the only other capped players. Eight players make their debut as starters, including Calgary-born Jordan Gray, who heads up an entirely new back row unit at no8. Saranac Lake prop Baylee Annis, now playing for Bristol in the UK, is a late addition to the squad.

England have made wholesale changes to the side that fell to France at Twickenham in March. Abbie Scott, Hannah Gallagher, Bianca Blackburn, and midfield combo Ceri Large and Amber Reed are the only players retained. Sarah Hunter returns to captain the side as she wins her 69th cap, and Marlie Packer is recalled at flanker to complete an impressive loose forward trio.

Test-centurion Rochelle Clark sits on the bench, along with vastly experienced lock Tamara Taylor and World Cup star Emily Scarratt. Hooker Lark Davies and fullback Rachel Lund are set to win their first caps from the bench, the only uncapped players in the match day roster.

USA
1 Sarah Chobot (capt.) 2 Katy Augustyn 3 Hope Rogers 4 Stacey Bridges 5 Alycia Washington 6 Laura Miller 7 Elizabeth Cairns 8 Jordan Gray 9 Deven Owsiany 10 Kimber Rozier 11 Cheta Emba 12 Jenn Sever 13 Jane Paar 14 Kelsi Stockert 15 Jessica Wooden

16 Sam Pankey 17 Baylee Annis 18 Catie Benson 19 Molly Kinsella 20 Sara Parsons 21 Jennifer Lui 22 Lauren Rhode 23 Nicole Heavirland

ENGLAND
1 Vicky Cornborough 2 Amy Cokayne 3 Laura Keates 4 Rowena Burnfield 5 Abbie Scott 6 Hannah Gallagher 7 Marlie Packer 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.) 9 Bianca Blackburn 10 Emily Scott 11 Katie Mason 12 Ceri Large 13 Amber Reed 14 Kay Wilson 15 Sarah McKenna

16 Rochelle Clark 17 Lark Davies 18 Justine Lucas 19 Tamara Taylor 20 Alex Matthews 21 Leanne Riley 22 Emily Scarratt 23 Rachel Lund

 

 

CANADA v NEW ZEALAND
18:30 local, 00:30 UTC

Canada have retained only five players from their starting World Cup final team, as head coach Francois Ratier looks to develop his next generation of stars. Laura Russell takes over from sister Kelly as skipper, and graduates from the reserves to the starting front row along with Mary-Jane Kirby and Olivia DeMerchant. Maria Samson, Latoya Blackwood, and Jacey Murphy keep their places in the pack, though Blackwood shifts to flanker and Murphy to no8. Barb Mervin is recalled on the other flank to complete an experienced back row.

Dream Team centre Andrea Burk will provide guidance for new caps Chelsea Guthrie and Alex Tessier, while Natasha Smith runs on for her test debut in an otherwise experienced back division. The bench is full of fresh faces, with Cindy Nelles the only player with any previous test experience. Among them, University of Victoria student Jess Neilson hopes to make her debut still four months shy of her 20th birthday.

Meanwhile interim Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore has chosen eight players that started in Paris against the Eagles, with another three from the bench. Captain Faio’o Fa’amausili is joined by Aleisha Nelson in the front row, Eloise Blackwill continues in the no4 jersey, and Justine Lavea lines up with Linda Itunu in the back row. Three players make their debuts in the forwards – loosehead prop Toka Natua, netball convert Charmaine Smith, and blindside flank Charlene Halapua.

The backs have an established look to them, with Kendra Cocksedge and Victoria Subritzy-Nafatali renewed at the halfbacks, and outside backs Renee Wickcliffe, Honey Hireme, and Selica Winiata all established internationals. 20-year-old speedster Stacey Waaka makes her much-antipated debut at centre, and 19-year-old Kiritapu Demant of Auckland is one of five uncapped players on the bench.

CANADA
1 Laura Russell (capt.) 2 Mary-Jane Kirby 3 Olivia DeMerchant 4 Tyson Beukeboom 5 Maria Samson 6 Barbara Mervin 7 Latoya Blackwood 8 Jacey Murphy 9 Chelsea Guthrie 10 Alex Tessier 11 Natasha Smith 12 Andrea Burk 13 Amanda Thornborough 14 Brittany Waters 15 Julianne Zussman

16 Carolyn McEwan 17 Julia Folk 18 DaLeaka Menin 19 Emma Taylor 20 Cindy Nelles 21 Jess Neilson 22 Katie McNally 23 Lisa Gauthier

NEW ZEALAND
1 Toka Natua 2 Fiao’o Fa’amausili (capt.) 3 Aleisha Nelson 4 Eloise Blackwell 5 Charmaine Smith 6 Charlene Halapua 7 Justine Lavea 8 Linda Itunu 9 Kendra Cocksedge 10 Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali 11 Renee Wickliffe 12 Chelsea Alley 13 Stacey Waaka 14 Honey Hireme 15 Selica Winiata

16 Teresa Te Tamaki 17 Aldora Itunu 18 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate 19 Angie Sisifa 20 Lesley Ketu 21 Emma Jensen 22 Kiritapu Demant 23 Janna Vaughan