Match Preview – USA vs Canada

The Women’s Eagles will get a second crack at rivals Canada on Saturday as they play host for the second time in a week at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Canada were made to work hard in the first half of Tuesday’s Can-Am opener, but stretched away in the second half to win comfortably by 39 points to 5. Both sides will be looking for improvement on Saturday after committing numerous errors particularly at the start of Tuesday’s encounter.

Pete Steinberg has made five changes to his Women’s Eagles side in response. With his forward pack under pressure he has added muscle with Molly Kinsella stepping into the second row for Alycia Washington and Sara Parsons taking over for Nicole Strasko on the flank. Seattle Saracens flanker Kristine Sommer joins the bench as loose forward cover.

A new-look halfback combination sees AnnaKaren Pedraza handed her first start and Nicole Heavirland a surprise choice at flyhalf. Pedraza impressed with a laser-like pass as a replacement on debut and will add width to the attack. Heavirland, another HSBC Sevens Series rep, will add a running threat to the No 10 position. She will have a familiar faces beside her as Alev Kelter pushes in one spot to inside center and another Sevens regular, Ryan Carlyle, is selected at outside center.

Canada will be keen to start where the left off on Tuesday and have made just three changes to the starting lineup. Tyson Beukeboom’s hat-trick performance has earned her a start in the second row with Kayla Mack switching to the bench in the only alteration up front.

The backs see two personnel changes as Francois Ratier gives opportunities to veterans Brittany Waters and Elissa Alarie. Magali Harvey moves to the left wing to accommodate Alarie on the right, while the hard-hitting Amanda Thornborough slides in one to inside center with Waters named at No 13 and Andrea Burk named among the reserves. New names on the bench are Lori Josephson, who steps in for try-scorer Brianna Miller as reserve scrumhalf, and TMR goal kicker Anaïs Holly.

Once again it’s clear the objectives for the two sides are different heading into the match. The new halfbacks suggest that the Eagles will look to attack at every opportunity with the backs, an area where they achieved greater success than up front. Canada’s forwards remain the dominant force, however, and it seems unlikely that the USA will be able to overcome that disparity in the space of less than a week. Expect for the Eagles to put more points on the board but the eventual result to be along the same lines.

 

USA
1 Tiffany Faaee (capt.), 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Catie Benson, 4 Stacey Bridges, 5 Molly Kinsella, 6 Christiane Pheil, 7 Sara Parsons, 8 Jordan Gray, 9 AnnaKaren Pedraza, 10 Nicole Heavirland, 11 Naya Tapper, 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Ryan Carlyle, 14 Kristen Thomas, 15 Jessica Wooden

Replacements: 16 Phaidra Knight, 17 Naima Reddick, 18 Jamila Reinhardt, 19 Alycia Washington, 20 Kristine Sommer, 21 Kelly Griffin, 22 Kayla Canett, 23 Tess Feury

CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwan, 2 Laura Russell, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Latoya Blackwood, 6 Jacey Grusnick, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Kelly Russell (capt.), 9 Chelsea Guthrie, 10 Emily Belchos, 11 Magali Harvey, 12 Amanda Thornborough, 13 Brittany Waters, 14 Elissa Alarie, 15 Julianne Zussman

Replacements: 16 Mary-Jane Kirby, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Kayla Mack, 20 Cindy Nelles, 21 Lori Josephson, 22 Andrea Burk, 23 Anaïs Holly

 

Date: Saturday, April 1
Venue: Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista
Kickoff: 15:00 local (17:00 Central, 18:00 Eastern)
Referee: Rose LaBrèche (RC)
Assistants: Kurt Weaver (USAR) & Lee Bryant (USAR)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Channel