0
0
eagles.rugby — The USA Women’s Eagles played winning rugby in Mansfield, Texas, Saturday evening, with a five-try outburst to defeat Italy 36-27. The Americans are now 3-0 on the WXV Global Series and will face Italy once again on Oct. 24 in Nashville, Tenn. [lead photo: USA Rugby]
The victory extends the squad’s win streak to four games, their first since the 2006 Rugby World Cup, and proved to be a fairly balanced contest between both teams. Each side showed offensive control at different moments of the match, with territory and possession time also near equal. Co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding shined with a hat trick at Texas Health Stadium, continuing to solidify her scoring ability from the flanker position. Veteran Hope Rogers added a pair of tries herself, tallying her 170th career test match point, just eight points shy of tying the all-time USA record set by Patty Jervey.
Hope Rogers scores / Photo c/o USA Rugby
While the USA did let the Italians sprint away with a few line-break scores, the overall performance from the Eagles and impact off the bench was a great way to start the three-match home series. The win also marked another historic milestone as legend Kate Zackary stepped on the pitch for her 52nd test match, passing Jamie Burke for second most all time.
The USA will now head east to Nashville for a second match up with Italy on Oct. 24, kickoff slated for 4:15pm ET on Paramount+ and tickets still available at eagles.rugby/tickets.
“There were moments tonight where we played the best rugby of the year, which is great, we just didn’t continue to capitalize,” USA head coach Jack Hanratty said. “We’ll start again next week and hopefully continue to see more of those moments, but we have to make sure we carry that momentum as long as possible. … We just need to assess a little bit more, about what is working and what isn’t, take the in-game knowledge and grow our rugby IQ.”
Nina Mason / Photo: USA Rugby
“That was really tough,” Perris-Redding said. “We made it a bit harder on ourselves than we needed to, but I’m so proud of the girls and thank you to this crowd because we honestly couldn’t have done it without you.”
Perris-Redding also said on her hat-trick, “I’m not going to take that [credit]. I think the girls set me up nice, I just managed to dot the ball over the line. Really glad we were able to get the win, and to be back home it’s truly incredible.”
Freda Tafuna / Photo: USA Rugby
The USA set an aggressive tone from the opening whistle, relentlessly pressuring the Italian defense to build a strong first-half lead. Perris-Redding opened the account in the 9th minute from close range and struck again at the 21st minute, finishing off a beautiful passing sequence sparked by Freda Tafuna. The Eagles forward pack dominance was on full display as Hope Rogers powered over the line for back-to-back close-range tries before the half. USA go to the break with a 26-10 lead.
With Bella Vogel consistently adding the extras off the tee, as she has thrived all year, the USA absorbed tries from Italy’s Francesca Granzotto and Vittoria Vecchini to enter the halftime break with momentum.
Bella Vogel / Photo: USA Rugby
The second half started perfectly when Perris-Redding completed her hat-trick in the 46th minute, capitalizing on a rhythmic build-up play from scrumhalf Abigail Paton to extend the advantage. Italy refused to back down, mounting a fierce comeback bid as the hour mark approached. Following a yellow card to Telesi Uhatafe in the 56th minute, the Italians quickly exploited the numerical advantage with rapid-fire tries. Despite this late surge and heavy defensive pressure, the early American offensive and structured phase play proved to be enough for a fourth-straight win.
Telesi Uhatafe / Photo: USA Rugby
With Italy joining the Eagles in Nashville for a two-game set, the second fixture offers an opportunity for the USA to review their work-ons and immediately action them against the same opponent.
Catch the USA Women’s Eagles vs Italy, Saturday Oct. 24 at 5:15 p.m. CT live on Paramount+.