It is GREAT news to hear that Canada will be live broadcasting almost all of the Nations Cup games via their Ustream channel! This afternoon's games are France vs South Africa at 4:30 EST and USA vs England at 6:30 EST. You can either view the video here or go directly to the Ustream site here: http://budurl.com/e8j7 . For full rosters and schedule of Nations Cup 2009, go here: http://budurl.com/z64e
Flores Names the U.S. Women’s Lineup for England Match
BOULDER, Colo. – The USA Women’s Head Coach, Kathy Flores, officially announced her lineup for the Eagles’ first match of the Nations Cup against England on Monday, August 10, at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario.
"The team is training well and anxious to meet England again. Despite only four training sessions, they feel prepared,” Flores said.
The U.S. Women’s Team hasn’t faced England since the last Nations Cup, played this time last year in England. That encounter saw the Eagles lose 17-14 in a very hotly contested match.
The Nations Cup is a critical tune-up event for the Eagles, who have qualified for the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, and the annual event is a great opportunity to play four international matches and to take advantage of the extended assembly time.
The U.S. player pool for this tournament endured a late addition of Phaidra Knight after Kate Daley sustained an injury in the Saranac Lake Tournament last weekend. Luckily Knight was available and ready to come with the side to the Nations Cup.
“We are happy to have (Phaidra’s) experience and leadership with the team,” Flores added. “Along with a few changes to the Can-Am squad she will help mobilize our attack and improve our continuity which has been our weakness in the past."
The Eagles play a challenging schedule at the Nations Cup and will make full use of the 30-player squad it has brought to Canada.
"We've got four matches so we will need to hit the ground running. Having played England many times in the last two years, we both know each other well, so the challenge will be to become less predictable," Flores said.
Following the opener against England tomorrow, the U.S. will get almost a week break before playing three matches in six days. The U.S. will play South Africa on Sunday, August 16, Canada on Wednesday, August 19 and France on Saturday, August 22.
"The athletes are fired up to put it all together,” Women’s High Performance Manager Alex Williams said. “They are ready to stand up and show the world the results of the hard work they've been putting in for the last three years and to kick off the year-long road to the World Cup with some victories at the Nations Cup.”
Tickets for the Nations Cup event at Appleby College can be purchased at the gate for $5 per day - or a $25 pass for the week to watch unlimited rugby action at both Appleby College and the finals day at Fletchers Fields. Fans unable to make it to the Nations Cup can watch it live at http://budurl.com/e8j7.
Follow the U.S. Women’s National Team via twitter at http://twitter.com/USAWomenEagles, or facebook and of course the U.S. Women’s National Team tour journal page on www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles.
USA Roster
1. JAMIE BURKE
2. LISA BUTTS
3. STACY BAKER
4. STACEY BRIDGES
5. JILLION POTTER
6. BECKETT ROYCE
7. KRISTIN ZDANCZEWICZ
8. BLAIR GROEFSEMA
9. CLAUDIA BRAYMER
10. STEPHANIE BRUCE
11. NATHALIE MARCHINO
12. LYNELLE KUGLER
13. AMY DANIELS
14. VANESHA MCGEE
15. ASHLEY ENGLISH
16. FARRAH DOUGLAS
17. MARI WALLACE
18. SHARON BLANEY
19. PHAIDRA KNIGHT
20. KIM MAGRINI
21. HANNAH STOLBA
22. CHRISTY RINGGENBERG
England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has named his team for tonight’s (Monday) Nations Cup opener against the USA, kick off 1130pm BST, in Toronto, Canada.
The defending Nations Cup champions have named a strong starting line-up for the opening clash of the tournament, which includes Bristol’s Catherine Spencer as captain and Darlington Mowden Parks’ Katy McLean as vice captain. Wasps’ Heather Fisher will also make her first start for England following her impressive performances for England in this year’s Rugby World Cup 7s which saw England lift the Plate title.
England Captain Spencer said: “Preparations have been going really well out here in Canada and now we’re really excited to take to the field for our first game against the USA. The USA are a very physical outfit and there’s no doubt that this first test will be a seriously tough challenge for us.”
Flanker Fisher added: “I am hugely excited about getting my first cap. I have been lucky enough to have been capped for England in the Rugby World Cup 7s but this is my first senior XVs start. Having waited a very long time for this honour I’ll definitely be making the most of this opportunity. The USA will be very physical and as a number 7 this is exactly the sort of game I like to play.”
The Nations Cup is the start of a busy season for the England team, with the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in London in 12 months. Before that England will also play the reigning World Champions New Zealand in three back-to-back tests, including the Investec Challenge Series Double Header at Twickenham Stadium on November 21st. They will also begin their defence of the RBS 6 Nations in February.
The Nations Cup provides England with an ideal competitive start to the new season with the USA, Canada, France and South Africa all involved, with all but South Africa finishing in the top five of the last rugby world cup in 2006.
England Head Coach Street added: “The Nations Cup is a great opportunity to play quality opposition. Our preparations have been excellent and the USA will be a fantastic test. We are expecting a tough physical contest as part of this four game tournament but this will give us an ideal build up towards the Rugby World Cup in London next year.”
England
15 Charlotte Barras Saracens
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
12 Alice Richardson Richmond
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
10 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks VC
9 Amy Turner Richmond
1 Rochelle Clark Team Northumbria
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Sophie Hemming Bristol Rugby
4 Sarah Beale Lichfield
5 Jo McGilchrist Wasps
6 Karen Jones Richmond
7 Heather Fisher Wasps
8 Catherine Spencer Bristol Rugby Captain
Replacements:
16 Claire Purdy Wasps
17 Katy Storie Team Northumbria
18 Becky Essex Richmond
19 Gemma Sharples Worcester
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Danielle Waterman Team Northumbria
22 Kim Oliver Bristol Rugby |
