RWC Warmup – Scotland vs USA – ARN Guide

The USA begins their two-match World Cup warmup tour against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. This will be the sixth meeting between the two sides, though remarkably it’s been nearly 16 years since their last match. To date the USA have won four out of five tests.

For Head Coach Rob Cain this represents the first chance to see his Eagles in action since defeating Australia in the final round of the Pacific Four in June. A three-week training camp in Atlanta gave him a chance to have a closer look at the roster and the team shows three personnel changes and two positional switches to the starting lineup.

Jenny Kronish has recovered from injury to take her place in the second row, one of seven England-based forwards in the run-on side. Jordan Matyas is the exception, the USA Sevens standout moving to the flank to make room with Elizabeth Cairns dropping out of the match day squad.

Olivia Ortiz gets a chance to make her case for the No9 jersey. Cain will look to another from the sevens rotation, Eti Haungatau, to add punch to the midfield, with Alev Kelter instead lining up at the unsettled fullback position.

San Diego Surfers lock Evi Ashenbrucker is a notable addition on the bench, where Life West hooker Jett Hayward is set to make her test debut. Other domestic selections are 2014 World Cup veteran Meya Bizer and Tess Feury, who has returned to the east coast following a stint in Ireland.

Scotland were the last team to qualify for this year’s World Cup after defeating Colombia in the play-off at Dubai in February. They finished at the bottom of the Six Nations after an agonizing one-point loss to Ireland on the final weekend.

Bryan Easson has selected an experienced lineup led by flanker Rachel Malcolm, who wins her 30th cap. Hooker Lana Skeldon and second row Emma Wassell each boast over 50 caps, as does star No8 Jake Konkel who settles for a spot among the reserves. Elliann Clarke is the only uncapped player named.

Fullback Chloe Rollie is set to join the half-century club with flyhalf Helen Nelson acting as vice-captain. Scrumhalf Caity Mattinson and outside center Emma Orr are the only starters with single digits cap totals.

The Scots have enjoyed a six-week training camp with the union providing financial support for 36 players. That will help bridge the gap in ranking between the two teams, with the USA currently at No5 in the world to Scotland’s No10. It suggests a close battle awaits and the Eagles will have to be at their best to secure a victory away from home.

Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 11am Eastern, 8am Pacific. A live stream will be available to viewers in the USA on The Rugby Network.

SCOTLAND
1 Molly Wright, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Sarah Bonar, 6 Rachel Malcolm (capt.), 7 Louise McMillan, 8 Evie Gallagher, 9 Caity Mattinson, 10 Helen Nelson, 11 Hannah Smith, 12 Lisa Thomson, 13 Emma Orr, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 15 Chloe Rollie

Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Elliann Clark, 19 Rachel McLachlan, 20 Jake Konkel, 21 Mairi McDonald, 22 Meryl Smith, 23 Shona Campbell

USA
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Nick James, 4 Hallie Taufo’ou, 5 Jenny Kronish, 6 Jordan Matyas, 7 Rachel Johnson, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Olivia Ortiz, 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Katana Howard, 13 Eti Haungatau, 14 Jennine Detiveaux, 15 Alev Kelter

Replacements: 16 Jett Hayward, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Evi Ashenbrucker, 20 Georgie Perris-Redding, 21 Carly Waters, 22 Meya Bizer, 23 Tess Feury

Date: Saturday, August 27
Venue: DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 16:00 local (08:00 Pacific, 11:00 Eastern)
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistants: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) & Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Network

HISTORICAL RESULTS
2006-09-17 – USA 24, Scotland 0 (Edmonton)
2006-01-21 – Scotland 6, USA 13 (Galashiels)
2004-11-27 – Scotland 6, USA 12 (Edinburgh)
2001-11-24 – Scotland 22, USA 3 (Edinburgh)
1998-05-09 – Scotland 10, USA 25 (Amsterdam)