Final France Test Decides Series

from USAWomensRugby.org:

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Whomever wins the third and final match between USA and France, will also walk away as winners of the series. Each side winning a match while at Oxnard College puts all the emphasis on the game at the Home Depot Center.

The Women’s Eagles have selected the roster to best fit that task.

“All of the players carry a great deal of experience passion into this match, so it will be a fun game to watch,” said Women’s Eagles head coach Pete Steinberg.

USA enters the match with an identical record it had heading into the final match of its European tour in November. France defeated the Women’s Eagles in decided fashion, 27-3 in front of its home crowd.

All but four of the listed starters received caps during the test at Stade de France.

“The crowd France had for the final game [in November] was impressive and definitely made a difference for them and I’m hoping we get the same advantage on Friday,” said Steinberg.

More than 20,000 fans watched the test in Paris last Fall.

“The Stade was awesome to play in. There is such a different atmosphere when playing in such a huge stadium and I can’t wait to get that feeling again,” said Meya Bizer, whom will be getter her third start in as many games. Bizer gets her fifth consecutive start for the Women’s Eagles, slotting in at fullback.

“Most of all, I’m looking forward to playing on our turf this time, not theirs,” finished Bizer.

Kickoff for the match is set for 5 p.m. (PT) at the Home Depot Center campus.

The Women’s Eagles test will take place prior to the Men’s Eagles Pacific Nations Cup match against Tonga. The Men’s Eagles’ match will kick-off at 8 p.m. (PT).

Universal Sports is scheduled to air both matches played in Carson, Calif. Each match will be aired live, with the Women’s Eagles match being shown at 5 p.m. (PT) (8 p.m. ET).

Sharon Blaney and Sarah Chobot will look to continue their try-scoring ways for the final match. Blaney accounted for two tries in the second contest against Les Bleus, while Chobot scored the game-winning try in the opening match.

Sadie Anderson, in her third start of the series, has accounted for 18 of the Women’s Eagles 38 overall points. The starting flyhalf connected on four penalty goals and two conversions in the previous matches.

Coming off of an upper-body injury, Katy Augustyn will step in as hooker, replacing Kittery Wagner. Wagner started the previous two matches against the French. The start for Augustyn is the first said honor during the tour.

On her way to becoming the most capped player in Women’s Eagles history, Jamie Burke gets her 38th cap with the start at prop.

In the opening matches against Les Bleus, the Women’s Eagles have put together two electric second halves, with one of the performances being enough for a comeback victory. A late try from Chobot helped in claiming the first match 13-10. Another late flurry of scoring from USA fell just shy in the second, with France winning 27-25.

The victory over France is the first such win in Women’s Eagles history.

Although the goal is to improve with each match, Steinberg notes that his squad needs to “do a better job of learning from game to game”. The final match will be the team’s final preparation match before heading to the Nations Cup.

The Women’s Eagles will compete in four matches while at the Nations Cup. Canada, England, France and South Africa round out the field for the August competitions.

The University of Northern Colorado will host the Nations Cup in Greeley, Colo.

USA v. FRANCE | HOME DEPOT CENTER | JUNE 14, 2013

1. Sarah Chobot
2. Katy Augustyn
3. Jamie Burke
4. Sharon Blaney
5. Sarah Walsh
6. Stacey Bridges
7. Lynelle Kugler
8. Shaina Turley (C)
9. Jossy Tseng
10. Sadie Anderson
11. Ashley Kmiecik
12. Anne Peterson
13. Megan Bonny
14. Erica Cavanaugh
15. Meya Bizer
16. Kittery Wagner
17. Hope Rogers
18. Naima Reddick
19. Kristen Zdanczewicz
20. Kate Daley
21. Carrie White
22. Hanna Stolba
23. Amanda Street