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The USA Women’s Eagles welcome their Canadian counterparts for the first of a two-game Can-Am Series to be played at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. In theory this represents the beginning of the end of preparations for the upcoming Women’s World Cup, to be held in Ireland this coming August. In practice, the two sides could not be further apart.
A rash of untimely injuries have hit Pete Steinberg’s squad, among them incumbent captain Hope Rogers and Rio Olympian Cheta Emba, while first choice hooker pair Katy Augustyn and Sam Pankey were ruled out just in the past few days. World Cup skipper Kate Daley and star flyhalf Kimber Rozier are also on the unavailable list. It leaves the Eagles significantly shorthanded at a time when the Canadian side is close to firing on all cylinders.
Also worth noting is the presence of several HSBC Sevens Series players in the USA side. Canada have taken a different approach, insisting that their best players concentrate fully on 15-a-side rugby in the build-up to the World Cup. Olympic duo Karen Paquin and Kelly Russell have skipped out on the circuit this season, whereas the likes of Alev Kelter, Naya Tapper, and Kristen Thomas have been regulars with Richie Walker’s team in the first three tournaments. It’s unusual preparation for test rugby, particularly for Thomas who will make her test debut on the wing.
Tiffany Faaee will captain the Eagles for the first time at loosehead with Joanna Kitlinski moving up from the back row to fill in the gap at hooker. A stable second row pairing of Stacey Bridges and Alycia Washington should provide strength, and the power running of No 8 Jordan Gray will be critical to achieving gainline success.
The new-look halfback combination is Joanne Fa’avesi and Megan Foster. It will be a big test for Fa’avesi in particular who normally lines up as a forward in the sevens game. Vice-captain Sylvia Braaten is one of only two 2014 World Cup attendees in the match day 23 along with reserve prop Naima Reddick. Outside her are the sevens stars and outstanding fullback Jessica Wooden, who will be leaned on heavily for inspiration against a formidable Canadian lineup.
No less than 10 players who took part in the 2014 World Cup final against England will take the field for kickoff wearing the Maple Leaf, with another five on the bench. Paquin and captain Russell reprise their world class loose forward partnership with Jacey Grusnick, with the dynamic Latoya Blackwood returning to the second row, a position she occupied in France three years ago. Laura Russell continues her permanent shift to hooker having recently come away with 2016 Player of the Year honors and there is no shortage of experience on the bench with intimidating St. FX alumni Olivia DeMerchant and Tyson Beukeboom ready to make an impact.
There is no respite offered in the backs. Only scrumhalf Chelsea Guthrie and promising winger Frédérique Rajotte were not part of the World Cup squad. Dream Team selections Andrea Burk and Magali Harvey are obvious points of concern for the Eagles while again there is quality in reserve with Brittany Waters and Elissa Alarie on the bench.
When last the two sides met the result was a one-sided 33-5 win for the Canadians at the Super Series in Salt Lake City. While only five players in Tuesday’s USA run-on side started that day, it’s hard to say the replacements are definitive upgrades. In most cases there are question marks and Steinberg will be busy furiously taking notes about who may or may not be on the plane to Dublin in August. François Ratier, on the other hand, will be making minimal changes to his Canadian side between now and then, a very strong position to be in with four months to go.
On paper this is something of a mismatch, and much more so than their official World Rugby rankings positions would imply. Canada might be only four spots up – in 3rd spot – but they are a settled and vastly experienced side who have their eyes firmly set on World Cup glory. The USA on the other hand are trying out new players, new combinations, and new patterns of play with precious little time to put it all together. Expect Canada to make a statement in the Series opener.
USA
1 Tiffany Faaee (capt.), 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Catie Benson, 4 Stacey Bridges, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Christiane Pheil, 7 Nicole Strasko, 8 Jordan Gray, 9 Joanne Fa’avesi, 10 Megan Foster, 11 Naya Tapper, 12 Sylvia Braaten, 13 Alev Kelter, 14 Kristen Thomas, 15 Jessica Wooden
Replacements: 16 Phaidra Knight, 17 Naima Reddick, 18 Jamila Reinhardt, 19 Molly Kinsella, 20 Sara Parsons, 21 AnnaKaren Pedraza, 22 Kayla Canett, 23 Nicole Heavirland
CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwan, 2 Laura Russell, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Kayla Mack, 5 Latoya Blackwood, 6 Jacey Grusnick, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Kelly Russell (capt.), 9 Chelsea Guthrie, 10 Emily Belchos, 11 Frédérique Rajotte, 12 Andrea Burk, 13 Amanda Thornborough, 14 Magali Harvey, 15 Julianne Zussman
Replacements: 16 Mary-Jane Kirby, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Cindy Nelles, 21 Brianna Miller, 22 Brittany Waters, 23 Elissa Alarie
Date: Tuesday, March 28
Venue: Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista
Kickoff: 16:00 local (18:00 Central, 19:00 Eastern)
Referee: Kurt Weaver (USAR)
Assistants: Rose LaBrèche (RC) & Nick Ricono (USAR)
Broadcasts: USA Rugby
