Pacific Four: New Zealand vs USA – ARN Guide

The Pacific Four moves to the Southern Hemisphere with the USA taking on New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon local time, late Friday evening in North America. Canada were resounding winners over the Women’s Eagles in LA and now face the defending World Cup champions on their home soil. The Black Ferns are currently ranked second only to England with the USA at 10th in the world.

QUOTES

ALLAN BUNTING (Director of Rugby)

• “We talk about our DNA, and we’re really trying to find out what that is. We want to get our crowds back. That’s our responsibility and the brand we play, but unleashing the special gifts we have is important.”

SIONE FUKOFUKA (Head Coach)

• “With McKenzie Hawkins injured, Gabby Cantorna takes the game driver position with the confidence of her experience, with Eti Haungatau coming in at No12 to provide a strong, confident presence in the midfield. Eti has been working hard on her game conditioning and brings a level of physicality we feel will provide real momentum in our first phase strike.”
• “We have had a good preparation for this test with the extra time in Hamilton, including a scrimmage against the Chiefs Manawa, which has allowed us to hone in on our attack break down, tackle tech, and backfield positional play that were areas we didn’t execute to our standards against Canada. Our set piece continues to improve and gains confidence each week as the team continues to work hard at striving for those gold standards.”

PREDICTION

The Eagles are still without injured captain Kate Zackary, but have reinforced their scrum with the experienced Charli Jacoby starting at tighthead prop. Eti Haungatau’s presence in the midfield gives them a physical force to breach the gainline. The Black Ferns fit from the Super Rugby Aupiki season and haven’t lost to the Eagles since 1991. New Zealand are heavy favorites at home.

LINEUPS

NEW ZEALAND BLACK FERNS
1 Kate Henwood, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Tanya Kalounivale, 4 Maia Roos, 5 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Kennedy Simon (co-capt.), 8 Layla Sae, 9 Maia Joseph, 10 Ruahei Demant, 11 Katelyn Vaha’akolo, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 13 Amy du Plessis, 14 Ruby Tui, 15 Mererangi Paul

Replacements: 16 Luka Connor, 17 Chryss Viliko, 18 Amy Rule, 19 Charmaine Smith, 20 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 21 Iritana Hohaia, 22 Hannah King, 23 Patrica Maliepo

USA EAGLES
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Charli Jacoby, 4 Hallie Taufo’ou, 5 Erica Jarrell, 6 Freda Tafuna, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Rachel Johnson (capt.), 9 Olivia Ortiz, 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Eti Haungatau, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Emily Henrich, 15 Tess Feury

Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Catie Benson, 19 Jenny Kronish, 20 Tahlia Brody, 21 Taina Tukuafu, 22 Mata Hingano, 23 Autumn Czaplicki

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Saturday, May 11
Venue: Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kickoff: 14:05 local (Friday 19:05 Pacific, 22:05 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 57°F (14°C), wind S 6-8mph (10-13km/h)
Broadcasts: Peacock, RugbyPass

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Julianne Zussman (Canada)
Assistants: Tyler Miller (Australia) & Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Australia)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (15): New Zealand 14, USA 1, STREAK NZ +13
2023-07-14 – USA 17, New Zealand 39 (Ottawa)
2022-06-18 – New Zealand 50, USA 6 (Whangarei)
2019-07-02 – USA 0, New Zealand 33 (Chula Vista)
2018-11-03 – USA 6, New Zealand 67 (Chicago)
2017-08-22 – USA 12, New Zealand 45 (Belfast)
2015-07-05 – USA 14, New Zealand 47 (Edmonton)
2014-08-17 – USA 5, New Zealand 55 (Paris)
2014-08-09 – USA 3, New Zealand 34 (Paris)
2004-06-13 – USA 0, New Zealand 35 (Calgary)
2000-09-27 – USA 0, New Zealand 45 (Winnipeg)
1999-10-19 – New Zealand 65, USA 5 (Palmerston North)
1998-05-16 – USA 12, New Zealand 44 (Amsterdam)
1996-09-11 – USA 8, New Zealand 88 (Edmonton)
1991-04-12 – USA 7, New Zealand 0 (Cardiff)
1990-08-30 – New Zealand 9, USA 3 (Christchurch)