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The Eagles will face their toughest opponent yet in the final round of the pool stage at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Dublin on Thursday. After wins over Italy and Spain, it’s the defending champions England who are next on the agenda.
Qualification for the Semi Finals depends on the result of this match, but the Eagles do not necessarily require a win against a team they have not beaten since the 1991 World Cup Final. With 10 competition points already on the books the USA are already ahead of both Canada and Ireland as the best pool runner-up and should neither team achieve victory, and Canada be denied a losing bonus point against New Zealand, the USA will be in.
Despite this victory will be the goal and to achieve this Head Coach Pete Steinberg has opted to stick with virtually the same team that conquered Spain. Two swaps are made with hooker Katy Augustyn and second row Alycia Washington restored to the run-on side while Sam Pankey and Abby Gustaitis switch to the bench.
There are also two changes in the reserves. HARC prop Nicole James is set to make her international debut in place of Jamila Reinhardt, and outside back Jessica Wooden could see her first actino of the World Cup as she replaces try-scorer Jessica Javelet.
Kickoff time is set for 2:30pm local, 9:30am Eastern. The match will be broadcast live by NBC Sports Gold, with a live stream provided by World Rugby for those located outside the USA.
USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Katy Augustyn, 3 Tiffany Faaee (capt.), 4 Stacey Bridges, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Sara Parsons, 7 Kate Zackary, 8 Jordan Gray, 9 Deven Owsiany, 10 Kimber Rozier, 11 Kristen Thomas, 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Nicole Heavirland, 14 Naya Tapper, 15 Cheta Emba
Replacements: 16 Sam Pankey, 17 Hope Rogers, 18 Nicole James, 19 Abby Gustaitis, 20 Kristine Sommer, 21 Kayla Canett, 22 Sylvia Braaten, 23 Jessica Wooden
