USA Women's 15s Head Coach Rob Cain has named his gameday 23 to face Scotland Saturday in Edinburgh.
The game, a Rugby World Cup warmup match for both sides, will be shown live on The Rugby Network and will kick off at 11AM ET on Saturday.
Cain makes several changes to the squad that played and lost to New Zealand in the Pacific Four Series. Utah State and ARPTC product Hallie Taufoou comes in at lock, where she played in the first two Pacific Four Series games, in favor of Kristine Sommer.
Jenny Kronish also comes in at lock, with Jordan Matyas moving to blindside flanker. The front row and the rest of the back row is unchanged.
Cain has made a shift at scrumhalf, putting in former Davenport standout and Sorensen Award nominee Olivia Ortiz instead of Carly Waters, and we've got yet another change at flyhalf with Gabby Cantorna coming in for Megan Foster. Alev Kelter has been moved from center to fullback, which gives her a bit more freedom to pick her spots, while Sorensen finalist Eti Haingatau (Lindenwood) comes in at outside center.
Jennine Detiveaux returns at wing.
There are some relative newcomers to the Eagles on the bench. Georgie Perris-Redding, 25, grew up in England but was born in Detroit. She has been in the USA mix throughout this year and would be looking for her third cap. Also looking for her third cap is Evi Ashenbrucker, a UC San Diego product who has had to battle through a lot to get to the Eagles.
And Jett Hayward, now with Life West but before that with Stanford University, could get her first cap if she comes off the bench at hooker.
Twelve of the starting 15 are now playing overseas in the English Premiership and that remains a big part of how the USA team gets its players high-level games.
Veteran Kate Zackary will step onto the pitch as Captain for her 22nd international appearance, while 2016 Sorensen Award-winner Hope Rogers will tie Katy Augustyn for 4th all time on the Women’s Eagles cap list at 36.
“Our 21 days in Atlanta was focused on being the best prepared we can be as we head into the Rugby World Cup," said Cain. "Understanding, refining and cementing our identity on and off the pitch. Aspiring for both the players as individuals and team to bring to life what we believe to be some key points of difference as a group. We also used this extended time to create behavior changes in both technical and tactical areas. All of this before culminated in our Rugby World Cup selection pre-departing for Scotland.
“Scotland have been in camp for six weeks, they have also in recent months committed to part time and full time contracts and have made some very big strides due to this professionalized contact time. They are very organized , very purposeful and look to maximize their ability to create a go forward off their set piece, dangerous ball carriers and kicking game.
