The USA Women's Eagles have made several changes for their second test match vs. Italy.
Following their 36-27 win over the Azzurri in Texas, the Eagles will look to make it two in a row against Italy and five in a row in general with Saturday's test match in Nashville.
The Eagles are unbeaten in the WXV Global Series and Saturday's doubleheader provides an excellent chance for rugby fans to see this team play and have a lot of fun, too.
Kickoff for USA vs Italy is 3:15 PM CT, 4:15PM ET. Tickets can be had here: https://eagles.rugby/tickets
Head Coach Jack Hanratty has made changes to the lineup despite last week's win.
For the first time in many years, perhaps ever, Hope Rogers is on the bench. After scoring two tries against Italy last week. By our count, she's now at 66 caps (a record every time she takes the field) and 34 tries. Starting in place of Rogers is Lauryn Carlton, a former track and field thrower at Elon University who took up rugby after college. A powerful athlete and popular teammate, Carlton gets her first cap in this match.
"Ask anyone about Lauren Carlton; I think it's probably one of the most excited the squad has been for for a long time because of just what an incredible teammate and and her work ethic and training. It's it's been unbelievable," said Hanratty. As for Rogers, she understood quickly that the team has to see more players in a starting role.
"She's great team player, had a great training session yesterday," said Hanratty about Rogers. "In the meeting, when we were talking about the scrum in particular, she's still that voice that we look to, and and I loved the fact I came into the mail room yesterday and she's sitting there with her iPad with Lauryn Carlton, who is winning her first cap, making sure that that first cap get is is to the best of her ability."
Hann Humphreys and Kapiona Bailey switch places at flanker, with Bailey now a reserve and Humphreys starts in the #6 jersey.
In the backs, Taina Tukuafu comes in as the fourth scrumhalf Hanratty has tabbed to start. Abigail Paton is on thge bench. And on the wing, Alev Kelter starts. She has played center and fullback for the Eagles and has been a flyhalf internationally in 7s, as well as a flanker in the PWR, but this is relativalty new territory for Kelter
"You you can imagine the intensity that she's been bringing in training," said Hanratty. "And the fact that she comes back in, is great. I think we had one of our best training sessions yesterday. I think the modern day winger can look very different. I think you've got speedster, you've got power, you've got playmakers that come off their wing. Alev is elements of all three of those. She's also brilliant under a high ball. I just think this is a new challenge and I think Alev loves a challenge. I'm excited for it, and I know I know she is too, and no one, I think, thinks our backline is weaker when Alev's on it."
Reece Woods returns as a front row option on the bench.
