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USA Women Pick Lineup to Face Ireland to Wrap Up WXV 1

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USA Women Pick Lineup to Face Ireland to Wrap Up WXV 1

Hope Rogers vs Ireland from 2021. Ian Muir photo. Rogers earns her 50th cap Friday.

Vancouver, BC (USA Release)—The USA Women’s Eagles have a short week as they prep for their final WXV 1 match against Ireland, kicking off Friday, October 11 at 3:30pm ET, live on RugbyPass TV.

Head Coach Sione Fukofuka only made two changes to this week’s roster, bringing Cassidy Bargell into the starting scrumhalf position and adding Emily Henrich to the replacements bench. Starting prop Hope Rogers is set to appear in her 50th tournament with the Eagles, becoming only the second woman to hit the 50 cap mark with the program. Captain Kate Zackary will also earn her 40th international test cap, a testament to the growing program.

The Eagles have won five of eight matchups against Ireland, most recently in 2018. Their last meeting on the pitch ended with an Ireland win during the 2021 Autumn Internationals matches. Coming off a win against New Zealand in week 1 and a loss to Canada last week, Ireland will have comparable energy and determination as the USA seeks a win to close out their time in Vancouver.

Comments from Head Coach Sione Fukofuka:

“I just wanted to acknowledge the milestones in this game with Kate and Hope celebrating 40 and 50 test matches, which is an amazing achievement from two very special players.

"We are looking forward to putting in a team performance that reflects the respect that the entire playing group and management have for both these players. We have looked to speed the game up with Cass coming into 9, while the two changes to our bench with Taina and Emily reflect the manner in which we want to finish the game with our bomb squad adding impact off the bench.

"Ireland are playing with confidence after beating Australia and New Zealand recently, so we know that it will be an 80 minute contest with set piece and the collision zone a feature. Ireland have a good kicking game and are tactically smart, so we are looking to turn that pressure into opportunities with ball in hand and expressing ourselves with and without the ball.”

USA Lineup to Face Ireland
Player Club Caps
1. Hope Rogers Exeter Chiefs 49
2. Kathryn Treder Loughborough Lightning 24
3. Charli Jacoby Exeter Chiefs 31
4. Erica Jarrell Sale Sharks 12
5. Hallie Taufoou Loughborough Lightning 21
6. Tahlia Brody Leicester Tigers 14
7. Kate Zackary (C) Ealing Trailfinders 39
8. Rachel Johnson (VC) Exeter Chiefs 31
9. Cassidy Bargell Beantown RFC 3
10. McKenzie Hawkins Colorado Gray Wolves 19
11. Lotte Sharp Saracens 17
12. Gabby Cantorna Exeter Chiefs 31
13. Alev Kelter Loughborough Lightning 25
14. Cheta Emba USA Sevens 11
15. Bulou Mataitoga Loughborough Lightning 20
     
Reserves    
16. Paige Stathopoulos Beantown RFC 12
17. Maya Learned Colorado Gray Wolves 14
18. Keia Mae Sagapolu Leicester Tigers 13
19. Rachel Ehrecke Colorado Gray Wolves 17
20. Tessa Hann Colorado Gray Wolves 2
21. Taina Tukuafu Lindenwood University 12
22. Emily Henrich Leicester Tigers 19
23. Tess Feury (VC) Leicester Tigers 30