Pacific Four 2024: USA vs Canada – ARN Guide

The Pacific Four officially opens on Sunday when the USA hosts Canada in the first match of a double-header at Dignity Health Stadium. A Major League Rugby match between LA and New England will follow immediately after. The Women’s Eagles are coming off a resounding win over South Africa played on neutral soil in London, while this is the first game for Canada of the calendar year. Canada enters the match the higher-ranked of the two at 4th in the world, with the USA five spots below in 9th.

NOTES

• this is the first match of the Pacific Four, an international competition that also includes New Zealand and Australia… Canada and the USA will travel south for their remaining matches
• Canada have won the last 8 meetings between the two sides, including a dominant 50-17 victory on neutral ground in Madrid last April… the USA hasn’t beaten Canada since July 2019
• USA captain Kate Zackary is out with injury… Rachel Johnson leads the side in her absence… other changes from the South Africa game are Hallie Taufo’ou in for Jenny Kronish at lock, Autumn Czaplicki for Lotte Clapp on the wing, and Mata Hingano for Amanda Berta on the bench
• Hope Rogers is the most experienced player in the Eagles side with 44 test caps… fellow prop Catie Benson is just behind with 41
• only three of the USA’s starting lineup are not currently based in the English Premiership… all in the backline… flyhalf McKenzie Hawkins plays for the Colorado Gray Wolves, with Czapicki part of the USA Sevens squad and fellow winger Emily Henrich currently unattached
• Tyson Beukeboom wins her 66th cap… that makes her the second-most capped women’s player in Canadian history… Gillian Florence holds the record with 67
• Canada captain Sophie de Goede starts in the unusual position of openside flanker for the first time… she is traditionally a No8 though often plays her club rugby with Saracens at blindside flanker… de Goede has also recently turned out with the Canada Sevens side
• Pamphinette Buisa and Sabrina Poulin both played at the Hong Kong Sevens… Olivia DeMerchant and Maddy Grant are the only others not currently based abroad… DeMerchant previously played for Exeter in the English Premiership
• Canada hooker Sara Cline (Western Force), center Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Chiefs Manawa), and USA prop Charli Jacoby (Queensland Reds) play for Super Rugby sides

QUOTES

SIONE FUKOFUKA (Head Coach)

• “A key component to our selection this week was continuity and confidence from the platform we established in Ealing against South Africa. Our theme of the week is chasing the challenge, and we know very well the quality of the Canadian team and the increase in pressure we will face.”
• “We have worked hard as a squad to put each other under pressure and really get comfortable with being uncomfortable and playing in that zone. Our selections are a reflection of the work the players have done and the balance of the 23 to allow us to play the game we want to play, physical, and direct but with skill and excitement.”
• “The week in Chula Vista has been great. Being back on home soil and connecting our playing group has been positive, in addition to adding a few new faces to the mix. Our sessions have been competitive and allowed us to keep developing our overall game.”

KEVIN ROUET (Head Coach)

• “All of our players have been playing at a high level in Canada and around the world since our last game together. They are eager to get back on the field on Sunday as we look to continue to build momentum for the next two matches with a strong showing against our long-time rivals.”

PREDICTION

The Eagles have the advantage of playing a test recently and will be confident after a solid win over the Women’s Boks. Their scrum, however, was put under real pressure and are facing one of the best scrummaging teams in the world. The Maple Leafs have a somewhat experimental lineup but haven’t lost to the Americans in almost five years. Canada are the higher-ranked side and should be considered clear favorites.

LINEUPS

USA
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Mae Sagapolu, 4 Erica Jarrell, 5 Hallie Taufo’ou, 6 Tahlia Brody, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Rachel Johnson (capt.), 9 Olivia Ortiz, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Autumn Czaplicki, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Emily Henrich, 15 Tess Feury

Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Jenny Kronish, 20 Rachel Ehrecke, 21 Cassidy Bargell, 22 Katana Howard, 23 Mata Hingano

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Sara Cline, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Laetitia Royer, 6 Pamphinette Buisa, 7 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 8 Gabrielle Senft, 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Claire Gallagher, 11 Paige Farries, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Shoshanah Seumanutafa, 14 Maddy Grant, 15 Sabrina Poulin

Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Alex Ellis, 19 Courtney Holtkamp, 20 Julia Omokhuale, 21 Olivia Apps, 22 Julia Schell, 23 Fancy Bermudez

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Sunday, April 28
Venue: Dignity Health Stadium, Carson
Kickoff: 13:30 local (16:30 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 73°F (23°C), wind SW 11-16mph (18-26km/h)
Broadcasts: Peacock, RugbyPass, TSN+

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tyler Miller (Australia)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (42): Canada 26, USA 16, STREAK Canada+8
2023-04-01 – Canada 50, USA 17 (Madrid)
2022-10-30 – Canada 32, USA 11 (Auckland)
2022-10-23 – Canada 29, USA 14 (Auckland)
2022-06-05 – Canada 36, USA 5 (Tauranga)
2021-11-05 – USA 13, Canada 26 (Glendale)
2021-11-01 – USA 9, Canada 15 (Glendale)
2019-11-24 – USA 27, Canada 54 (Chula Vista)
2019-11-20 – USA 0, Canada 19 (Chula Vista)
2019-07-10 – USA 20, Canada 18 (Chula Vista)