Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Two more heavyweights in the women’s game will collide in the second game of the Super Series in Chula Vista on Friday afternoon. Canada have traveled south to take on New Zealand, the World Champions and only team to defeat the Maple Leafs at the 2017 World Cup.
It’s a mix of youth and experience for Sandro Fiorino’s Canadian side. The front row features three of the best at their positions in the world in Olivia DeMerchant, Laura Russell, and DaLeaka Menin. They will have two promising youngsters behind them in Courtney Holtkamp and Sophie de Goede, the latter making her much-anticipated debut after missing out on the European tour with injury in the fall.
Brianna Miller, Alex Tessier, and Elissa Alarie are steadying influences in the backline and while Sara Kaljuvee is no stranger to the big stage, this will be her first outing with the XVs side having scaled the heights of sevens already. A six-forward bench features two World Cup members in flanker Jacey Grusnick and scrumhalf Lori Josephson.
The Black Ferns are testing their depth on this tour but the run-on side is brimming with class. Toka Natua and Aleisha-Pearl Nelson were standouts in 2017 while new captain Lesley Elder (née Ketu) is an abrasive figure on the flank. Pia Tapsell is the lone debutante in the starting side, the North Harbour No8 looking to start with a bang.
Kendra Cocksedge and Selica Winiata are nominated as vice-captains and shore up the spine of the team, and there is more veteran leadership out wide in Carla Hohepa and Renee Wickliffe. A trio of newcomers await their first cap on the bench – hooker Luka Connor, second row Karli Faneva, and halfback Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu.
New Zealand Head Coach Glenn Moore is not taking the Canadians lightly.
“We know Canada has one of the best scrums – if not the best scrum – in the world and we know they like to be physical. They’ve certainly got pace, so we expect them to bring a lot to the game.
“We’ve recovered well from our travel and have been preparing for this for months now. Everyone can’t wait to get out there and play.”
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 7pm Eastern. Live broadcasts will be available on FloRugby in the USA and Sky Sports in New Zealand. Tickets are available now on the USA Rugby site.
CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Laura Russell (capt.), 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Courtney Holtkamp, 5 Sophie de Goede, 6 Fabiola Forteza, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Gabrielle Senft, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Alex Tessier, 11 Elissa Alarie, 12 Sara Kaljuvee, 13 Anaïs Holly, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Irene Patrinos
Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Maude Laliberté, 18 Veronica Harrigan, 19 Jacey Grusnick, 20 Marie-Pier Fauteux, 21 Sara Svoboda, 22 Lori Josephson, 23 Alysha Corrigan
NEW ZEALAND
1 Toka Natua, 2 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 3 Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, 4 Eloise Blackwell, 5 Charmaine Smith, 6 Charmaine McMenamin, 7 Lesley Elder (capt.), 8 Pia Tapsell, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 10 Ruahei Demant, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12 Chelsea Alley, 13 Carla Hohepa, 14 Renee Wickliffe, 15 Selica Winiata
Replacements: 16 Luka Connor, 17 Phillipa Love, 18 Leilani Perese, 19 Karli Faneva, 20 Marcelle Parkes, 21 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 22 Krysten Cottrell, 23 Alena Saili
Date: Friday, June 28
Venue: Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista
Kickoff: 16:00 local (19:00 Eastern)
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USAR) & Kat Roche (USAR)
Broadcasts: FloRugby (USA), Sky Sports (NZ)
