Eagles Performing in UK; Can That Translate to USA Wins?
Eagles Performing in UK; Can That Translate to USA Wins?
One of the interesting aspects of the USA Women's 15s situation is that while the team didn't light the world on fire in 2022, their players are doing exactly that.
It's worth noting that only one player made the 2022 World Dream Team whose team did not make the RWC semifinals, and that was USA prop Hope Rogers. This 2022-2023 professional season, as GRR pointed out this week, Premier 15s teams in the UK have benefited from a significant contribution from USA players, notably Rogers and Kate Zackary, who are the top two in tries in the entire league and are part of a massive North American cadre leading the Exeter Chiefs to tomorrow's final.
We take a look at the US contingent on the @ExeChiefsWomen https://t.co/tX8DYF8MMK https://t.co/K0S6Ozgx8d
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) June 23, 2023
In a sense, then, as the Eagles get ready for the rest of the Pacific Four Series in July, there's pressure on this new coaching staff to bottle that success and form it into a cohesive team performance.
The Eagles play Australia on July 8 and New Zealand on July 14, both in Ottawa, Ont. Having already lost rather convincingly to Canada, the USA needs to beat Australia to get into the top tie of the WXV. Of course, if they don't, and finished 4th out of four, then they go into the 2nd tier and play in the "you get what your results deserve" division, which is appropriate for where they are.
Still, fans would like to see them in the top tier, and that means a win over the Wallaroos.
Turning those players into a team comes down, said interim Head Coach Richard Ashfield, to face-to-face time.
"The clubs in England get the most time in front of the players so they are molding to fit their needs, not to suit USA Eagles needs," Ashfield explained. "Some of the clubs are very good regarding our players in terms of communication load management others not so good but that is an ongoing process. Making the transition from what is expected at your club to the different demands with the Eagles in one week is hard, but something we are working on. I think our young generation coming through the U23 into the seniors are also bringing some new and exciting energy which will help us get more out of our experienced operators."
And that is a process. Bringing all the players together and finding the right pieces to put together is Ashfield's challenge.
It's also worth pointing out that the positions aren't spread evenly. Of the 16 players who are in the UK and joining the USA in Canada, 10 are forwards and six are backs. Only three are inside backs and none is a flyhalf. So, you see, Ashfield has to organize his team based on the positions, too. (PS we aren't counting Kate Zackary as a center but a loose forward even though she's a very good center for Exeter.)
Ashfield noted this and noted also how important it is to rely on and build on the development pathway in the USA.
"If you look at the makeup of our 30 selected for PAC 4, 16 are in the UK; 14 are WPL, college, or 7s players," Ashfield told GRR. "Of the 16 in the UK only two didn't play college or club rugby in the US." That would be Georgie Perris-Redding and Lotte Clapp.
"So we obviously are doing something correct in producing players if the top teams in the women's club game are wanting them," Ashfield added. "Five were at the recent U23 competition in South America which bodes well for the future and I think shows that our college game is helping to do its part in the pathway. We need to continue to build a robust domestic competition at the senior level that can help players to develop and make the jump to the rigors and demands of international test rugby."
Ashfield also has 17 other players in the preparation camp who are not on the travel roster. Some of those are veterans, with four playing in the Premier 15s, but most are young college, or even high school players. Perris-Redding's twin sister India. Perhaps, though, the coach's biggest decision will be how he constructs his halfback combination. McKenzie Hawkins started at flyhalf against Canada and it would be too knee-jerk to make a change—it's fair to say Hawkins deserves time to make that position her own. But at the same time he has to be looking at the right combination.
Sorensen Award
Worth noting that we could see a starting USA lineup with four Sorensen Award-winners: Rogers, Hawkins, Emily Henrich, and Mae Sagapolu. In addition we could see five other finalists on the field. That just bolsters what Ashfield said about the women's collegiate game.
The WXV
USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand all play each other in the Pacific Four. The top three will join England, France, and Wales, the top three from the 2023 Six Nations, in the WXV Tier 1 championship later this year. This will be an annual competition.
The 4th-place Pacific Four team will go to WXV Tier 2 along with the top teams from Oceania, Africa, and Asia (Samoa, South Africa, and Japan), the 4th team from the SIx Nations (Scotland), and the winner of Italy vs Spain (played July 22).
Current Pacific Four Standings
| 2023 Pacific Four | W | L | T | PF | PA | BT | BL | Pts |
| Canada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 17 | 33 | 0 | 4 |
| Australia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 50 | -33 | 0 | 0 |
Pacific Four Fixtures:
April 1, 2023 Canada 50 USA 17
June 29, 2023 Australia vs New Zealand
July 8, 2023 Australia vs USA / Canada vs New Zealand
July 14, 2023 New Zealand vs USA / Canada vs Australia
Women’s Eagles Traveling Roster
Catherine Benson Sale Sharks, Carly Waters Sale Sharks, Bulou Mataitoga Loughborough Lightning, Rachel Ehrecke DMP Sharks, Olivia Ortiz DMP Sharks, Hope Rogers Exeter Chiefs, Rachel Johnson Exeter Chiefs, Alycia Washington Sale Sharks, Tahlia Brody Cheltenham Tigers, Georgie Perris-Redding Sale Sharks, Tess Feury DMP Sharks, Hallie Taufoou Beantown RFC, Erica Jarrell Beantown RFC, Kristin Bitter Dartmouth College, Lotte Clapp Saracens, Tiara A’au New York Rugby Club, Taina Tukuafu Lindenwood University, Evelyn Ashenbrucker Berkeley All Blues, Summer Harris-Jones USA Sevens, Jett Hayward Life West, Kathryn Treder DMP Sharks, Paluvava’u Freda Tafuna Lindenwood University, Emily Henrich Dartmouth College, Eti Haungatau Sale Sharks, Jennine Detiveaux Knoxville Minx, Charli Jacoby Exeter Chiefs, McKenzie Hawkins Colorado Greywolves, Kate Zackary Exeter Chiefs (Captain), Joanne Fa’avesi USA Sevens, Keia Mae Sagapolu Central Washington University,
Preparation Camp Invitees
Jenny Kronish Harlequins, Meya Bizer DMP Sharks, Paige Stathopoulos Beantown RFC, Tiahna Padilla Harvard University, Yeja Dunn Beantown RFC, Sadie Schier Dartmouth College, Sophia Pyrz Rhinos, Olivia Bernadel-Huey Berkeley All Blues, India Perris-Redding Sale RFC, Nicole James Sale Sharks, Caitlin Weigel Colorado Greywolves, Emerson Allen Railway Union, Kapoina Bailey Lindenwood University, Olivia Woods Eagle HS Idaho, Reece Woods Eagle HS Idaho, Monalisa Tupou EPA Lady Razorbacks, Su Adegoke Life University,
USA Traveling Staff
Interim Head Coach: Richard Ashfield
Assistant Coach: Katie Dowty
Assistant Coach: Kate Daley
Strength & Conditioning: Sylvia Braaten
Head Athletic Trainer: Katherine Henry
Athletic Trainer: Ken Look
Analyst: Caitlin Singletary
Team Doctor: Chau Bui
Team Doctor: Rachel Sachs-Bourne
Team Manager: Tim Westwood
Team Manager: Tiffany Lopez
Assistant Coach/Consultant: Mouritz Botha
