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The battle for North American supremacy continues on Sunday as the USA takes on Canada in Round Two of the Can-Am Series. It’s a rubber match of sorts, with Canada claiming a shutout win on Wednesday but the USA getting the edge during July’s Super Series.
Rob Cain is taking the opportunity to look at different players with six changes to the run-on side. Kathryn Treder gets her first test start at hooker after debuting off the bench on Wednesday. Nick James will pack down besides her at tighthead prop, with Alycia Washington coming into the second row. Nicole Strasko runs out on the blindside flank as Rachel Johnson drops to the reserves.
Carly Waters is retained at scrumhalf but it will be Bui Baravilala wearing No10 with Gabby Cortona covering on the bench and Katana Howard ruled out with injury. The last change comes on the wing with Sarah Levy awarded her second cap and Jennine Duncan swapping from left to right.
Sandro Fiorino has taken a different approach, naming a near-identical starting XV that shows only one change. Alysha Corrigan starts at her preferred outside center position with Paige Farries pushing to the wing. Irene Patrinos moves to the bench that now also includes an extra flanker in MP Fauteux.
Sunny skies are on the forecast in San Diego which should lift the spirits of the Eagles after the disappointing result in Round One. They will be hoping that Canadian legs are heavy on only three days rest, but it may not be enough to turn around a 19-point deficit.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 5pm Eastern. Admission at the Elite Athlete Training Center is free. A live broadcast will be available on FloRugby.
USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Nick James, 4 Kristine Sommer, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Nicole Strasko, 7 Kate Zackary (capt.), 8 Katie Johnson, 9 Carly Waters, 10 Bui Baravilala, 11 Sarah Levy, 12 Amy Naber-Bonté, 13 Emily Henrich, 14 Jennine Duncan, 15 Leti Hingano
Replacements: 16 Joanna Kitlinski, 17 Maya Learned, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Frieda Fetu’u, 20 Rachel Johnson, 21 Ashlee Byrge, 22 Gabby Cantorna, 23 Kaitlyn Broughton
CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (capt.), 2 Gillian Boag, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 McKinley Hunt, 6 Sophie de Goede, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Fabiola Forteza, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Taylor Black, 11 Madison Grant, 12 Tausani Levale, 13 Alysha Corrigan, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Alex Tessier
Replacements: 16 Mackenzie Carson, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Mikiela Nelson, 19 Courtney Holtkamp, 20 Emma Taylor, 21 Marie-Pier Fauteaux, 22 Lori Josephson, 23 Irene Patrinos
Date: Sunday, November 24
Venue: Elite Athlete Training Center, Chula Vista
Kickoff: 14:00 local (17:00 Eastern)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistants: Amber McLachlan (Australia) & tbc (USA)
Broadcasts: FloRugby
