Match Preview – USA Eagles vs Barbarians

The pages of rugby history will turn once again at Infinity Park on Friday when the Barbarians take on the Women’s Eagles at Infinity Park. It’s the first time the famous invitational club will play a USA side – the Men’s Eagles have never been so lucky – and the first time the Women’s Barbarians have ever played a full international, having just two two matches under their belt thus far.

While the match will not award test caps to the USA side, it will give Rob Cain a chance to see a new-look side in action ahead of the upcoming Super Series in San Diego. Catie Benson and Stacey Bridges are the only players with double-digit cap totals in the run-on side, with three more on the bench in Katy Augustyn, Hope Rogers, and Alycia Washington.

An inexperienced backline sees three uncapped players start with Katana Howard at flyhalf, Eti Haungatau at outside center, and Neariah Persinger on the wing. Haungatau is making the unusual transition from the front row to the midfield after featuring as a prop for the u20 side last year.

Heading from the backs to the forwards is Asinate Serevi. Twice capped as a center, the daughter of Fiji Sevens legend Waisale Serevi will instead run out in the No8 shirt. Meanwhile former Lindenwood front rower Joyce Taufa is set to cover the back row as a replacement.

Uncapped players on the bench include North Shore prop Charli Jacoby, Eagles Sevens halfback Ashlee Byrge, and Berkeley flyer Bulou Mataitoga.

The Barbarians have selected an impressive roster for the occasion. World record cap winner Rochelle Clark will line up beside World Cup-winning captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili in the front row. Former Eagles lock Carmen Farmer will start with another Black Ferns powerhouse, Linda Itunu, given the captaincy.

Canada’s Amanda Thornborough partners vice-captain Helen Nelson from Scotland in the midfield. The tradition of including at least one uncapped player in the side is continued with Wasps winger Tova Derk given the honor running out among the international stars.

There are three Americas players on the bench. Former USA flyhalf Hannah Stolba is set to appear against her country in front of her local club faithful, while Canadian duo Andrea Burk and Julia Folk will cover the midfield and back row respectively.

The match will act as a curtain-raiser for the Major League Rugby clash between the Glendale Raptors and Rugby United New York. Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 4pm Pacific, 7pm Eastern. A live broadcast will be available on FloRugby.

USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Nick James, 4 Stacey Bridges, 5 Nicole Strasko, 6 Kate Zackary (capt.), 7 Rachel Johnson, 8 Asinate Serevi, 9 Carly Waters, 10 Katana Howard, 11 Neariah Persinger, 12 Amy Naber, 13 Eti Haungatau, 14 Jennine Duncan, 15 Gabriella Cantorna

Replacements: 16 Katy Augustyn, 17 Hope Rogers, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Alycia Washington, 20 Joyce Taufa, 21 Ashlee Byrge, 22 Bui Baravilala, 23 Bulou Mataitoga

BARBARIANS
1 Rochelle Clark, 2 Fiao’o Fa’amausili, 3 Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox, 4 Carmen Farmer, 5 Dalena Dennison, 6 Paula Fitzpatrick, 7 Alisha Butchers, 8 Linda Itunu (capt.), 9 Emma Jensen, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 11 Alison Miller, 12 Helen Nelson, 13 Amanda Thornborough, 14 Tova Derk, 15 Jasmine Joyce

Replacements: 16 Heather Kerr, 17 Samantha Martinez-Gion, 18 Gillian Bourke, 19 Amelia Buckland-Hurry, 20 Julia Folk, 21 Hannah Stolba, 22 Andrea Burk, 23 Katie Mason

Date: Friday, April 26
Venue: Infinity Park, Glendale
Kickoff: 17:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USAR)
Assistants: Lee Bryant (USAR) & Emily Sharfstein (USAR)
TMO: Marc Nelson (USAR)
Broadcasts: FloRugby