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USA, Samoa Name Lineups for WXV2 Test Match

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USA, Samoa Name Lineups for WXV2 Test Match

Fred Tafuna has been in great form for the USA. Ian Muir photo.

USA Women's 15s Interim Head Coach Milton Haig has announced the 23 players who will kick off the WXV2 tournament in Cape Town against Samoa on Saturday.

The game kicks off Saturday, October 14, at 8 a.m. ET, live on RugbyPass. 

Autumata Hingano will make her debut as a starting back, while Meya Bizer joins the finishers list after earning her 30th cap in the Wales match two weeks ago.

Milestone Achieved, Meya Bizer Looks Ahead

Jenny Kronish, who was a late replacement in the WXV player pool for Evi Ashenbrucker, was also named to the bench. 

This is the first time the Women’s Eagles have ever met Samoa in a test match. The Manusina head into WXV 2 following a warmup match against hosts South Africa, which ended in a draw. Having only played three other matches this year, the USA v Samoa game will be important playing time for the Manusina. 

The Eagles have been training together for three weeks and head to South Africa just after a warm up fixture with Wales. Despite a loss, the one-off matchup and scrimmage against the Irish was precisely the foundation this team needed to set markers for a successful WXV campaign and building back the winning culture. This fist game against a growing Samoa side will be a quality test for the Eagles on their improvements and time together the last few weeks. 

Interim Head Coach Milton Haig on roster selection and work ons ahead of Samoa: 

“We are pretty pleased with how the players are performing. There is a good mix of experience and youthfulness in terms of players getting another chance to play for the USA Eagles. I’m excited to see Lotte back on the team and see what she can do, and I’m also excited to see Tahlia at the 7. It’s an important match for us as the first one of WXV 2. We’ve trained well and want to represent our country to the highest degree we can. 

“Samoa are a big team, so we really want to move the ball and play some exciting rugby. That’s going to be one of our key fundamentals for winning this game, but we also know that with a team like Samoa who brings physicality and big ball carry, we have to defensively make sure we tackle low and get them on the ground as soon as possible while giving ourselves time to steal the ball or slow the game down.”

Samoa has also named their squad and that is listed below after the USA list.

USA Women’s Eagles Roster | USA v Samoa
Name Club Caps
1. Catie Benson Sale Sharks 37
2. Kathryn Treder Loughborough Lightning 13
3. Charli Jacoby Colorado Gray Wolves 21
4. Hallie Taufoou Beantown RFC 11
5. Erica Jarrell Beantown RFC 2
6. Freda Tafuna Lindenwood University 3
7. Tahlia Brody Leicester Tigers 4
8. Rachel Johnson Exeter Chiefs 22
9. Carly Waters Colorado Gray Wolves 20
10. Gabby Cantorna Exeter Chiefs 21
11. Charlotte “Lotte” Clapp Saracens 10
12. Mata Hingano USA Sevens Debut
13. Kate Zackary (C) Ealing Trailfinders 32
14. Tess Feury Leicester Tigers 19
15. Bulou Mataitoga Berkeley All Blues 11
     
Reserves    
16. Paige Stathopoulos Beantown RFC 1
17. Monalisa Tupou Life West/EPA Razorbacks 3
18. Keia Mae Sagapolu Leicester Tigers 3
19. Jenny Kronish Beantown RFC 9
20. Rachel Ehrecke Colorado Gray Wolves 7
21. Taina Tukuafu Lindenwood University 3
22. Meya Bizer Ealing Trailfinders 30
23. Emily Henrich Beantown RFC 10
     
USA Staff    
Head Coach Milton Haig  
Assistant Coach John Haggart  
Assistant Coach Melodie Bosman  
Coach Intern Karameli Faaee  
Strength & Conditioning Sylvia Braaten  
S&C Asst. Owethu Durban  
Analyst Caitlin Singletary  
Doctor Derek Hatfield  
Lead Physio Katherine Henry  
Physio McKenna Medders  
Team Manager Tiffany Lopez  
Team Liason Jongi Nokwe  

 

Samoa Lineup to Face USA
1 Ana Mamea
2 Lulu Leuta
3 Rereglory Aiono
4 Olalini Tafoulua
5 Easter Savelio
6 Sinead Ryder
7 Sui Pauaraisa (C)
8 Nina Foaese
9 Bella Milo
10 Cassie Siataga
11 Allison Futialo
12 Utumalama Atonio
13 Hope Schuster
14 Linda Fiafia
15 Karla Wright-Akeli
   
Reserves  
16 Sosoli Talawadua
17 Avau Filimaua
18 Maletina Brown
19 Faalua Tugaga
20 Ti Tauasosi
21 Fogamanono Tusiga
22 Hasting Leiataua
23 Michelle Curry