USA Women's Eagles vs New Zealand: 2019 Super Series

The USA Women’s Eagles will face number one ranked New Zealand on July 2 at 5:15 pm PT in their second match of the 2019 Super Series. The USA opened the Series against No. 2 England, losing 38-5 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. New Zealand beat Canada 35-20, in their first match.

All matches for the series are being streamed live on FloRugby.com. Single day tickets start at only $19 with a full tournament pass available for only $69. To purchase and for a full schedule, visit usarugby.org/superseries2019.

Match Comments

USA Head Coach Rob Cain has made ten changes to his starting XV from last week’s matchup against England, with another five adjustments to the reserves.

Three Eagles who will play for the first time this tournament with Katy Augustyn at hooker, Amy Talei Bonte at outside center and Nicole Strasko in the reserves. Augustyn played her last test match in the USA’s victory over Ireland last November while Bonte and Strasko played their last test matches in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

Captain Kate Zackary shifts to No. 8 with Bui Baravilala playing fullback and Bulou Mataitoga in at wing. Five players who were reserves last match against England are starters this week with Nick James at prop, Alycia Washington at lock, Elizabeth Cairns at flanker, Katana Howard at flyhalf and Kris Thomas at wing.

The full match day roster has 217 test caps.

Black Ferns Head Coach Glenn Moore has named three new caps to play the USA. Wellington lock Joanah Ngan-Woo, Canterbury hooker Forne Burkin and Waikato flanker Kennedy Simon are all set to make their Test debuts from the reserves.

Bay of Plenty’s Kelly Brazier has been named in the reserves, her first time in the Black Ferns jersey since the 2017 Women’s World Cup Final.

“We all know how talented Kelly is and she can cover 10, 12 and 15. Kelly brings experience, she reads the game well and is brave on defense. She has a calm head and is conditioned to playing on the big stage. She will bring a steadying influence to the back line.

Moore said the squad had recovered well from their match against Canada and would need to step up a notch against the USA.

“We watched the match between the USA and England, and the Americans brought a lot of physicalities and made some big hits so we need to be ready for that. We’ve put strategies in place to counter what we expect them to bring and are ready.”

2019 Super Series Squads: The USA vs England

USA Women’s Eagles: 1. Hope Rogers (USA Sevens, 26 caps) 2. Katy Augustyn (Berkeley All Blues, 33 caps) 3. Nick James (Houston Athletic, 7 caps) 4. Stacey Bridges (Beantown Rugby, 37 caps) 5. Alycia Washington (New York Rugby, 18 caps) 6. Elizabeth Cairns (Life West Gladiatrix, 9 caps) 7. Joyce Taufa (Lindenwood University, 4 caps) 8. Kate Zackary (C) (San Diego Surfers, 10 caps) 9. Ashlee Byrge (USA Sevens, 1 cap) 10. Katana Howard (Twin City Amazons, 1 cap) 11. Kris Thomas (USA Sevens, 8 caps) 12. Alev Kelter (USA Sevens, 10 caps) 13. Amy Talei Bonte (Life West Gladiatrix, 1 cap) 14. Bulou Mataitoga (Berkeley All Blues, 1 cap) 15. Bui Baravilala (San Diego Surfers, 7 caps)
16. Catie Benson (Life West Gladiatrix, 18 caps) 17. Charli Jacoby (Chicago North Shore, 1 cap) 18. Joanna Kitlinski (Glendale Merlins, 9 caps) 19. Nicole Strasko (Life West Gladiatrix, 3 caps) 20. Kristine Sommer (Seattle Saracens (USA) Harlequins (ENG), 8 caps) 21.Olivia Ortiz (Davenport University, 1 cap) 22. Emily Henrich (Dartmouth College, 2 caps) 23. Fane Haungatau (USA Sevens Residency, 1 cap)USA Expanded Squad

USA STAFF: General Manager Emilie Bydwell, Head Coach Rob Cain, Assistant Coaches Jamie Burke, Kate Daley, and Rich Ashfield, Coach/Team Manager Jenny Lui, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Ian Jones,
Head Performance Analyst Dave Gardner, Team Doctor Terence Cronin, Head Athletic Trainer Katherine Henry, Athletic Trainer Danielle Allen

New Zealand Black Ferns: 1. Phillipa Love (8) 2. Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (25) 3. Aleisha-Pearl Nelson (30) 4. Eloise Blackwell (38) 5. Charmaine Smith (22) 6. Charmaine McMenamin (20) 7. Les Elder (Captain, 14) 8. Pia Tapsell (1) 9. Kendra Cocksedge (Vice-captain, 48) 10. Ruahei Demant (6) 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (4) 12. Chelsea Alley (19) 13. Carla Hohepa (20) 14. Natahlia Moors (1) 15. Renee Wickliffe (36) 16. Forne Burkin* 17. Toka Natua (17) 18. Leilani Perese (6) 19. Joanah Ngan-Woo* 20. Kennedy Simon* 21. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (1) 22. Kelly Brazier (37) 23. Theresa Fitzpatrick (9)