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History will be made in Chicago on Saturday. For the first time the USA Eagles Womens and the New Zealand Black Fearns will play an international rugby match in the USA. The first is part of the special Rugby Weekend, a Triple Header in the Windy City.
The USA have a new Head coach. Rob Cain’s match-day 23 includes 13 uncapped players, a reflection of the lack of rugby played. Six of these players have been named in the starting line-up.
In total seven of the Eagles starting players played a year ago against New Zealand in the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Among them is captain Kate Zachary while in contrast 10 of the starting Black Fearns faced the Eagles in the prior outing.
Among the new blood is 18-year old Emily Henrich. She comes with raving reviews having been Women of the Match against Canada in the u20s Tri-Nations Cup. She is joined by fellow 2018 All-American Collegiate attendees Azniv Nalbandian, Carly Waters, Gabriella Cantorna and Kaitlyn Broughton and Oregon Sports Rugby’s Rachel Johnson as new caps to start for the Eagles.
The USA Women’s Eagles are ranked 5th in the world. The New Zealand Black Fearns, meanwhile, are firmly the world’s no 1.
New Zealand’s side named for the match is incredibly impressive. Wellington winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga is coming off a superb domestic season. Both her and rookie Monica Tagoai are to ask questions of the Eagles’ defense.
The Black Ferns are captained by veteran hooker Fiao’o Faamausili. With 55 test caps she is among the leading names in the women’s game world wide.
There have been 20 prior matches between the USA and New Zealand. They were played over a period ranging from 1991-2017. The Black Ferns have a return of 9 victories with the USA having 1.The most recent match between the teams was in August 2017. The Black Ferns won 45-12 in what was a Semi Final of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The Black Fearns are firm favorites to win again on Saturday. Americas Rugby News predicts a win for the women in black by 20 points.
TEAMS
USA
15 Amelia Bizer, 14 Kelsi Stockert, 13 Emily Henrich, 12 Kimber Rozier, 11 Kaitlyn Broughton, 10 Gabriella Cantorna, 9 Carly Waters, 8 Jordan Gray, 7 Kate Zachary (capt.), 6 Rachel Johnson, 5 Alycia Washington, 4 Stacey Bridges, 3 Azniv Nalbandian, 2 Katy Augustyn, 1 Catherine Benson
Reserves: 16 Joyce Taufa, 17 Nick James, 18 Megan Rom, 19 Finau Tamaivena, 20 McKenna Strong, 21 Nikki Kenyon, 22 McKenzie Hawkins, 23 Evan Hoese
NEW ZEALAND
15 Selica Winiata, 14 Renee Wickliffe, 13 Stacey Waaka, 12 Chelsea Alley, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 10 Ruahei Demant, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 8 Aroha Savage, 7 Les Elder, 6 Charmaine McMenamin, 5 Charmaine Smith, 4 Eloise Blackwell, 3 Aldora Itunu, 2 Fiao’o Faamausili (capt.), 1 Pip Love
Reserves: 16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 17 Leilani Perese, 18 Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, 19 Jackie Patea-Fereti, 20 Linda Itunu, 21 Kristina Sue, 22 Krysten Cottrell, 23 Monica Tagoai
Date: Saturday November 03
Kick-off: 12:00pm (Local)
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
