USA Women’s Rugby World Cup Squad 2022
USA coach Rob Cain has rung the changes after their opening Rugby World Cup defeat by Italy.
He has made seven personnel changes and one positional for their next game against Japan on Saturday in Whangarei.
Up front Charli Jacoby starts at tighthead, Kathryn Johnson comes into the back row and there is a new second-row pairing in Kristine Sommer and Evi Ashenbrucker.
Alev Kelter switches from full-back to inside-centre, with Meya Bizer selected at 15. Tess Feury starts on the wing and Olivia Ortiz gets the nod at scrum-half.
The last time these two sides met, at the 1994 World Cup, USA ran out 121-0 winners.
USA team to play Japan – Saturday 15 October
Meya Bizer; Jennine Detiveaux, Eti Haungatau, Alev Kelter, Tess Feury; Gabby Cantorna, Olivia Ortiz; Hope Rogers, Joanna Kitlinski, Charli Jacoby, Kristine Sommer, Evi Ashenbrucker, Kathryn Johnson, Rachel Johnson, Kate Zackary (captain).
Replacements: Kathryn Treder, Catherine Benson, Nick James, Jenny Kronish, Elizabeth Cairns, Carly Waters, Megan Foster, Lotte Clapp.
USA 10-22 Italy
A malfunctioning lineout and the inability to show creativity in attack saw the USA suffer a 22-10 defeat by Italy in their opening Rugby World Cup match in Whangarei.
It was an error-strewn first half, the USA’s lineout struggles matched by Italy’s passing inaccuracies.
The Eagles scored early through Hallie Taufoou, who crossed from close range after Jordan Matyas took a quick tap from a scrum penalty and the USA recycled effectively on the line. But they couldn’t build on that score before half-time and trailed 7-5 at the break after Italy scored in the 39th minute.
Italy extended their lead early in the second half before the Eagles closed the gap through a Jenny Kronish try when the Azzurre were down to 14 players. They were unable to add the conversion to level the scores and two Italy tries in seven minutes in the final quarter condemned the USA to a first-round defeat.
Sheer strength from @USARugby! 💪#USAvITA | #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/YN7RuJLREr
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 9, 2022
USA team to play Italy – Sunday 9 October
Alev Kelter; Jennine Detiveaux, Eti Haungatau, Katana Howard, Lotte Clapp; Gabby Cantorna, Carly Waters; Hope Rogers, Joanna Kitlinski, Nick James, Hallie Taufoou, Jenny Kronish, Jordan Matyas, Rachel Johnson, Kate Zackary (captain).
Replacements: Kathryn Treder, Catie Benson, Charli Jacoby, Kristine Sommer, Georgie Perris-Redding, Olivia Ortiz, Meya Bizer, Tess Feury.
USA Women’s Rugby World Cup Squad 2022
There’s a mix of youth and experience in Rob Cain’s squad. Nine players have previous World Cup experience while others heading to New Zealand will get their first taste of this tournament.
Prop Hope Rogers will play in her third World Cup, having also competed in 2014 and 2017, while Kate Zackary will continue as captain of the team having taken on the role in 2018.
Head Coach Rob Cain and Captain Kate Zackary reflect on the journey to this point and a special squad heading to #RWC2021@Rc1Beast | @katezack28 pic.twitter.com/alrjvZckZI
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) September 15, 2022
Cain said: “We’ve got a really exciting group, and the pleasing thing is to really see some of the less experienced players drive what we’re doing alongside the experienced players.
“It’s been great to see players get more caps these last 12 months, adding eight or nine games to allow for combinations to be created and take advantage of our opportunity windows. Now we have an opportunity to cement it.”
The USA have also named four non-travelling reserves in Rachel Ehrecke, Saher Hamdan, Bulou Mataitoga and Alycia Washington.
Backs
(DoB/Club/Position)
Meya Bizer (10 May 1993/Beantown/Full-back)
Gabby Cantorna (2 Aug 1995/Exeter Chiefs/Fly-half)
Lotte Clapp (13 Jan 1995/Saracens/Wing)
Jennine Detiveaux (12 Nov 1993/Exeter Chiefs/Wing)
Tess Feury (15 Mar 1996/Wasps/Full-back)
Megan Foster (24 Apr 1992/Exeter Chiefs/Fly-half)
Eti Haungatau (25 Sep 2000/Lindenwood University/Centre)
McKenzie Hawkins (8 Jan 1997/Life West Gladiatrix/Fly-half)
Katana Howard (25 Jun 1993/Sale Sharks/Centre)
Bridget Kahele (1 Aug 1996/Beantown/Scrum-half)
Alev Kelter (21 Mar 1991/Saracens/Centre or full-back)
Olivia Ortiz (23 Oct 1997/Colorado Gray Wolves/Scrum-half)
Carly Waters (19 Dec 1995/Sale Sharks/Scrum-half)
Forwards
Evelyn Ashenbrucker (6 Aug 1990/San Diego Surfers/Lock)
Catie Benson (10 Feb 1992/Sale Sharks/Prop)
Elizabeth Cairns (23 Oct 1992/Life West Gladiatrix/Back-row)
Jett Hayward (22 Apr 1997/Life West Gladiatrix/Hooker)
Charli Jacoby (9 Oct 1989/Exeter Chiefs/Prop)
Nick James (20 Jan 1989/Sale Sharks/Prop)
Erica Jarrell (Beantown/Prop)
Kathryn Johnson (25 Oct 1991/Twin Cities Amazons/Back-row)
Rachel Johnson (5 Feb 1991/Exeter Chiefs/Back-row)
Joanna Kitlinksi (5 Jul 1988/Sale Sharks/Hooker)
Jenny Kronish (27 Dec 1996/Harlequins/Lock)
Maya Learned (1 Jan 1996/Gloucester-Hartpury/Prop)
Jordan Matyas (2 Jul 1993/USA Sevens/Lock)
Kathryn Treder (Beantown/Hooker)
Georgie Perris-Redding (1 Oct 1997/Sale Sharks/Back-row)
Hope Rogers (7 Jan 1993/Exeter Chiefs/Prop)
Kristine Sommer (2 Oct 1990/Seattle/Lock)
Hallie Taufoou (26 May 1994/Loughborough Lightning/Lock)
Kate Zackary (26 Jul 1989/Exeter Chiefs/Back-row)
USA Women’s Rugby World Cup Fixtures 2022
(All kick-off times are UK & Ireland time)
Pool B
Sun 9 Oct, USA 10-22 Italy
Sat 15 Oct, USA v Japan (5.30am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
Sun 23 Oct, Canada v USA (3.15am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
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