Time to shine for Eagles at World Cup

By Mark Stevens
29/10/22

Kate Zackary says “it’s time to shine” for herself and her USA Eagles team-mates ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with Canada in Auckland.

Having clashed with their North American neighbours last weekend, going down 29-14 in the pool stages, the two will lock horns once more with a semi-final place up for grabs.

Eagles captain Zackary - who is one of six Exeter Chiefs players who will line-up for Rob Cain’s side at the Waitakere Stadium - said: “We’ve played them so many times. We’ve typically come out on the losing side of that, so our time is coming. We’re building something special and if that’s this week, then it’s our week, so it’s time to shine.”

Last Sunday’s game was the sixth-straight win for Canada against the USA, but the Eagles performed better than the last match up in June and proved this group can organise to beat the higher-ranked team.

Head coach Cain has selected the same 23 for the match, including Zackary and the Chiefs contingent of Hope Rogers, Charli Jacoby, Rachel Johnson, Gabby Cantorna and Jennine Detiveaux.

Cain said: “Last week was full of drama, big collisions with lots of exciting rugby, and some key learnings for both teams who share an intense rivalry. We very much expect this weekend to offer even more and we know we will have to be even better, as too will Canada. Reaching the quarter-final of a Rugby World Cup, especially with many of the challenges we have faced, is a great achievement in itself.

“We are happy to be at this stage of the tournament, but we aren't satisfied just yet. Sunday is a real opportunity for this group. Each week with the more time we have had together, we have shown more in each performance. We are under no illusions at the task at hand but we know exactly what is needed to reverse the result from last weekend."

USA WOMEN’S EAGLES TO FACE CANADA WOMEN

15 Tess Feury (Wasps)
14 Jennine Detiveaux (Exeter Chiefs)
13 Eti Haungatau (Lindenwood University)
12 Alev Kelter (Saracens)
11 Lotte Clapp (Saracens)
10 Gabby Cantorna (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Carly Waters (Sale Sharks)
1 Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Joanna Kitlinski (Sale Sharks)
3 Nick James (Sale Sharks)
4 Kristine Sommer (Seattle)
5 Evelyn Ashenbrucker (San Diego Surfers)
6 Kathryn Johnson (Twin Cities Amazons)
7 Rachel Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Kate Zackary (Exeter Chiefs, capt)

16 Kathryn Treder (Beantown RFC)
17 Catie Benson (Sale Sharks)
18 Charli Jacoby (Exeter Chiefs)
19 Jenny Kronish (Harlequins)
20 Elizabeth Cairns (Life West Gladiatrix)
21 Bridget Kahele (Beantown RFC)
22 Katana Howard (Sale Sharks)
23 Meya Bizer (Beantown RFC)