The USA Rugby Women’s National Team (WNT) ended its WXV Global Series at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., on Oct. 30. The Eagles finished the international test block with a 55-12 loss to England. [lead photo: Nina Fishman]

“This was always going to be a massive test of where we’re at,” WNT head coach Jack Hanratty said. “We set a target to try and challenge [England], and I think we did in certain facets. We’re disappointed with the scoreline. When you lose hold of the set piece, you’re going to struggle, and England’s quality off the bench was excellent.”

Player of the Match Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored two tries on the wing to the open match. They were the result of fast attack phases that sucked in the USA defense, and then a well executed skip pass to where no defense could cover. The Eagles followed with a Hope Rogers try, one that evolved after proper use of the pitch and resolute attack at the line. Bella Vogel added the conversion for a 17-7 halftime lead.

Penalties, however, hampered the Eagles, notably in the scrum. A yellow card in the second half didn’t help either. But the Americans did do well countering one of England’s biggest weapons — the driving lineout across the try line. When the teams played in the Rugby World Cup opener, an English throw-in inside the 22 was so effective in producing points, but the U.S. pack was able to halt that drive well.

The USA played with a lot of ball in hand, but relatively predicable phases were easy for the English defense to absorb. Some grubbers and chip kicks, though they didn’t necessarily pay off for the Eagles, seemed a good option as England didn’t necessarily field and counter them perfectly. But that strategy didn’t continue into the second half.

Late in the game, reserve Kate Zackary drove at the line and on the second attempt dove over the defense to dot down the team’s second try. The Red Roses ran hard all 80 minutes, hitting the line at pace, breaking through the first tackler, and finding support when needed. The visitors sent Meg Jones, Mia Venner, Bryony Field, Maddie Feaunati and Sadia Kabeya in for scores.

Alev Kelter was a spark. The wing mixed it up in the breakdown and had solid carries. Ashely Cowdrey was also very good at fullback. And really love the influence of flanker Hann Humphreys around the pitch – a hard worker with flair.

“At the end of the day, there are a group of teams that the rest of the world are chasing, and I’m glad that we were able to compete with that next level,” Hanratty closed. “We know this is going to take a huge amount of time, but the buy-in from the players all year to achieve that has been amazing.”

USA ROSTER

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. Nina Mason
11. Alev Kelter
12. Bella Vogel
13. Emily Henrich
14. Bulou Mataitoga
15. Ashley Cowdrey

16. Paige Stathopoulos
17. Lauryn Carlton
18. Mona Tupou
19. Erica Jarrell-Searcy (Co-Capt)
20. Kapoina Bailey
21. Kate Zackary
22. Cass Bargell
23. Tessa Hann

WXV RESULTS

USA vs. Ireland | (W) 40-36
Tries: Perris-Redding, Rogers, Treder (2), Taufoou, Tafuna
Conv: Vogel (5)

USA vs. Wales | (W) 26-24
Tries: Tafuna (3), Coulibaly
Conv: Vogel (3)

USA vs. Italy | (W) 36-27
Tries: Perris-Redding (3), Rogers (2)
Conv: Vogel (4)
Pen: Vogel (1)

USA vs. Italy | (W) 54-24
Tries: Tafuna (3), Sagapolu-Senele (2), Perris-Redding, Zackary, Carlton
Conv: Vogel (7)

USA vs. England | 55-12 (L)
Tries: H. Rogers, K. Zackary
Conversions: B. Vogel (1)

STAFF

Jack Hanratty | Head Coach
Sarah Chobot | Assistant Coach
Lou Meadows | Assistant Coach
Jon Humphreys | Assistant Coach
Jeremy Steinbach | Head of Athletic Performance
Nick Gallagher | Assistant S&C
Declan Oorlof | Analyst
Sam Malette | Head Athletic Trainer
Janie Kleumpers | Assistant Athletic Trainer
Dr. Becca Rodriguez | Team Doctor
Lisa Boyer | Licensed Massage Therapist
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
Videographer | Owen Aschieris
Media Director | Jenni Burke