Having lost twice in a row to Italy over the last several years, to USA has some work to do.
The thing is, the USA team is very different. They last met in 2023, and things have changed since then.
Key among those is that the Eagles have a new Head Coach, and certainly a new approach.
And that new approach could well counter an Italian side that plays very fast and punishes distracted play.
"We knew what was coming with Ireland because we previewed it in detail, and that's exactly what we've done with Italy," said co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding. "We know they're attacking threats. A few of us know a couple of them very well, being teammates back in the PWR. So we very much know what their threats are, what the opportunities are, and that's something that we've prepared for. So we know what they can do, but we're we're ready to hopefully combat that."
Head Coach Jack Hanratty gave a heavy nod to the squadmembers not picked for this game.
"Every week we give a starting jersey to 15 players who think the coach is pretty cool; then you've got eight players that that think you're semi okay, and then you've got another nine that probably don't like us, and that's that's tough. But they have to become Italy."
Those nine players not picked, along with the reserve players sometimes, have to mirror the opposition.
"I think the nice thing is when when you're trying to emulate Italy this week, you are playing fast. But also, we're trying to be a team that plays fast, so we're trying to have that level of intensity at training anyway."
Sometimes the scout team players wear yellow bibs, which means they're just regular opposition. Sometimes theu wear blue bibs, and then they are running a specific Italian game plan.
"I also think that's a great way of of showing your rugby IQ and learning your opposition," said Hanratty. "We have quality players that are are now trying to play a different style that aren't selected for the 23, but are now trying to play a different style against us. And that, actually, I think that develops then as players as well. And that is high-performance sport. You have to be you're disappointed on Monday night and on Tuesday you need to be Italy because it's what's good for the group. So I would really compliment those nine players and our finishing group, the second act that we have coming on as well, because they had to really put our starting 15 under pressure this week and I think they did it."
