eagles.rugby — The USA Women’s Eagles opened their WXV Global Series campaign with a statement victory on Irish soil, showing heart and execution to edge out Ireland 40–36. [lead photo: Susan Maxwell for USA Rugby]

“It was a 23 job today,” Eagles head coach Jack Hanratty said. “The impact of the bench was surreal. One of the best feelings is the fact that the 23 got a victory not just the starting 15.”

Ireland hit the ground running with a fast and clinical attack breaking through USA defense sending them over the try line in just the 6th minute. An Irish maul and subsequent try clinched up points early, extending the home side’s momentum early in the first 20 minutes.

“Starting this match, we let them [Ireland] have it a bit too easy,” Hanratty said. “But coming into the second half, our body height, our carry metres, our smarts to stay up when we needed to paid off. We call it a kind of improv to come in and owning your role, and I thought we did that really well.”

Settling into their stride, the USA dialed into their set piece, answering Ireland’s call in the 24th minute when Georgie Perris-Redding picked up from the base of a tight ruck to muscle over for the Eagles’ first try. Ireland struck back, but Hope Rogers powered through Irish defense to keep the USA within striking distance at halftime: 26-12 to Ireland.

The Eagles came back for the second half with complete conviction and executed their set piece, unleashing their driving maul that Ireland could not stop. Coming off two lineout wins, Kathryn Treder dotted down back-to-back tries from the driving maul in the 56th and 64th minutes, cutting Ireland’s lead by just five points at 26-31. Meanwhile, Nina Mason came on as flyhalf making her USA Eagles debut and falling into stride seamlessly.

The Eagles capitalized immediately from an Irish yellow card, and Kapoina Bailey set up Hallie Taufoou from close range for a try, and another Bella Vogel conversion pushed the USA ahead 33-31.

Keeping the high-paced momentum, Player of the Match Freda Tafuna found a defensive gap off a slick assist from Abigail Paton, crashing through to score, widening the gap 40-31 and giving the Eagles some buffer for a late Ireland try in the 79th minute. On the hunt for one more try, the Irish attacked fast, but once possession fell into USA, the Eagles found touch and clinched the 40-36 victory.

The USA Women will now travel to Cardiff where they will have a six-day turnaround before taking on Wales for their second series match next Saturday, Sept. 26. The USA women will then return stateside for an October assembly ahead of playing host to three home games completing the five-match WXV Global Series circuit.

Tickets to see the USA Women’s Eagles take on Italy in Mansfield, Texas, just one month away on Oct. 17 and again in Nashville, Tenn., on the 24th; as well as a Rugby World Cup rematch against England’s Red Roses in New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium are on sale now here.

ROSTER v IRELAND

1 Hope Rogers
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele
4 Hallie Taufoou
5 Rachel Ehrecke
6 Hann Humphreys
7 Georgie Perris-Redding (Co-Capt.)
8 Freda Tafuna
9 Abigail Paton
10 Bella Vogel
11 Erica Coulibaly
12 Emily Henrich
13 Tessa Hann
14 Telesi Uhatafe
15 Kayla Canett

16 Chloe Hill-Huse
17 Alivia Leatherman
18 Reece Woods
19 Erica Jarrell-Searcy (Co-Capt)
20 Kapoina Bailey
21 Kate Zackary
22 Cassidy Bargell
23 Nina Mason*

*USA Debut

USA WXV SCHEDULE

USA 40-36 Ireland
@ Dublin, Ireland – Tallaght Stadium
Tries: Perris-Redding, Rogers, Treder 2, Taufoou, Tafuna
Conv: Vogel 5

vs Wales | Saturday, Sept 26
Cardiff, Wales – Cardiff Arms Park | 10 a.m. ET (5 p.m. local)

vs Italy | Saturday, Oct 17
Mansfield, TX – Texas Health Mansfield Stadium | 5 p.m. CT

vs Italy | Saturday, Oct 24
Nashville, TN – Geodis Park | 3:15 p.m. CT
Double Header with USA Men v AUS XV | 6 p.m. CT

vs England | Friday, Oct 30
Harrison, NJ – Sports Illustrated Stadium | 5:15 p.m. ET
Double Header with USA Men v AUS XV | 8 p.m. ET

STAFF

Jack Hanratty | Head Coach
Sarah Chobot | Assistant Coach
Lou Meadows | Assistant Coach
Jon Humphreys | Assistant Coach
Jeremy Steinbach | Head of Athletic Performance
Toby Bolton | Assistant S&C
Callum Howells | Analyst
Sam Malette | Lead Athletic Trainer
Janie Kleumpers | Assistant Athletic Trainer
Lee Ann Hewitt | Assistant Athletic Trainer
Dr. Irvin Sulapas | Team Doctor
Hannah Reid | Team Manager
Alana Gattinger | Head of High Performance Operations
Jo Hull | Head of Women’s High Performance
Tamara Sheppard | General Manager of High Performance
Jenni Burke | Director National Team Media & Communications