Fresh from commanding win over England, Canadian women take on U.S. in rugby test

SALT LAKE CITY – Canada is essentially sticking with the same lineup for the U.S. on Tuesday as the one that thumped England 52-17 last Friday in the opening game of the Women’s Rugby Super Series.

Interim head coach Shaun Allen has made just one change with Katie McNally, who scored a try coming off the bench against England, replacing Frederique Rajotte on the wing.

The lopsided win moved Canada up one spot to No. 4 in the world rankings. England fell one place to No. 3 behind France and New Zealand.

“We did a very good job on attack against England,” Allen said in a statement. “The understanding and commitment shown by the squad was exactly what we were looking for in our first fixture. Against the U.S.A. we are looking for the players to perform their specific roles and to improve on the refinements that we have worked on in training and our review.”

The sixth-ranked American women lost their opening match of the tournament 19-13 to France.

Canada, which is 15-8-0 all-time against the U.S., beat the Americans 36-28 last time they met — last year in Red Deer, Alta.

Allen is filling in for head coach Francois Ratier, who had to leave the tournament because of a death in the family.

Canada Roster

Carolyn McEwen (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club), Vancouver; Mary-Jane Kirby (Highland RFC) Brampton, Ont.; DaLeaka Menin (Hornets) Vulcan, Alta.; Laura Russell (capt.). (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, Ont.; Kayla Mack (Wild Oats) Saskatoon; Barbara Mervin (Velox RFC) Peterborough, Ont.; Latoya Blackwood, St. Anne de Bellevue/Toulouse) Montreal; Jacey Murphy (Aurora Barbarians) Alliston, Ont.; Chelsea Guthrie (Stratchona Druids) Edmonton; Emily Belchos (Markham Irish) Barrie, Ont.; Katie McNally (Castaway Wanderers) Guelph, Ont.; Andrea Burk (Capilano RFC) North Vancouver; Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians) Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que.; Brittany Waters (Castaway Wanderers) Vancouver; Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers) Montreal.

Replacements

Julia Folk (UVic/Castaway Wanderers), Regina; Demi Stamatakis (SFU) Vancouver; Olivia DeMerchant (Woodstock Wildmen) Mapledale, N.B.; Tyson Beukeboom (Aurora Barbarians) Uxbridge, Ont.; Fabiola Forteza (Club de Rugby de Quebec) Quebec City; Brianna Miller (SABRFC), Pointe-Claire, Que.; Anais Holly (TMRRFC) Montreal; Frederique Rajotte (Sainte Anne de Bellevue RFC) Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Que.