USA Prepares For Super Series Finale
USA Prepares For Super Series Finale
USA picks the lineup to take on France.
USA Women's National Team head coach Rob Cain has named his lineup to take on World #4 France in the final weekend of the Women's Super Series.
Watch USA vs France Sunday, July 14 at 4PM PT LIVE on FloRugby
Cain has made seven changes to the starting 15 with four players from last week’s impactful bench taking starting positions.
Among them are props Hope Rogers and Nick James, as well as lock Stacey Bridges who, as the most capped Eagle in the current squad, will make her 40th international appearance against France.
Bridges is joined by fellow lock Nicole Strasko, who earns her first starting position of the tournament after coming in as a reserve against New Zealand.
With Fane Haungatau recovering from injury, center Amy Talei Bonte will jump in as a starter. The forward pack is rounded out with Joyce Taufa in at flanker.
The backs will see wing Neariah Persinger return from injury to earn her first official cap. Persinger was clinical when the USA faced the Barbarians in April, scoring two tries to accompany a number of exciting runs.
As Sunday approaches, the Eagles’ lineup of reserves will look to make another sound impact as Katy Augustyn and Bui Baravilala are back. Augustyn earned her 34th cap last match to pass USA Hall of Famer Phaidra Knight as the fourth-most capped Women’s Eagle. Baravilala has been in two of the three Super Series matchups missing the last one to a minor injury.
STARTERS
NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS |
1. Hope Rogers | Prop | USA Sevens | 28 |
2. Joanna Kitlinski | Hooker | Glendale Merlins | 11 |
3. Nick James | Prop | Houston Athletic | 9 |
4. Nicole Strasko | Lock | Life West Gladiatrix | 4 |
5. Stacey Bridges | Lock | Beantown Rugby | 39 |
6. Rachel Johnson | Flanker | Oregon Sports Union | 4 |
7. Joyce Taufa | Flanker | Lindenwood University | 5 |
8. Kate Zackary (C) | No. 8 | San Diego Surfers | 12 |
9. Ashlee Byrge | Scrumhalf | USA Sevens | 3 |
10. Gabriella Cantorna | Flyhalf | Glendale Merlins | 5 |
11. Jennine Duncan | Wing | Seattle Saracens | 3 |
12. Amy Talei Bonte | Center | Life West Gladiatrix | 3 |
13. Emily Henrich | Center | Dartmouth Rugby | 5 |
14. Neariah Persinger | Wing | Unattached | 0 |
15. Alev Kelter | Fullback | USA Sevens | 12 |
RESERVES
NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS |
16. Catie Benson | Reserve | Life West Gladiatrix | 20 |
17. Charli Jacoby | Reserve | Chicago North Shore | 3 |
18. Katy Augustyn | Reserve | Berkeley All Blues | 34 |
19. Asinate Serevi | Reserve | Scion Rugby | 4 |
20. Kristine Sommer | Reserve | Harlequins (ENG) Seattle Saracens | 10 |
21. Olivia Ortiz | Reserve | Davenport University | 3 |
22. Bui Baravilala | Reserve | San Diego Surfers | 8 |
23. Kris Thomas | Reserve | USA Sevens | 10 |
STAFF
General Manager | Emilie Bydwell
Head Coach | Rob Cain
Assistant Coach | Jamie Burke
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Assistant Coach Rich Ashfield
Coach/Team Manager | Jenny Lui
Head of Physical Performance | Ian Jones
Head Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Team Doctor | Terrence Cronin
Head Athletic Trainer | Katherine Henry
Athletic Trainer | Danielle Allen