Eagles name unchanged starting side for Kansas City clash with Wallaroos

USA Women’s Eagles head coach Jack Hanratty has named an unchanged starting XV for his team’s Round 2 Pacific Four Series clash with Australia.

Against New Zealand’s Black Ferns in the tournament opener last weekend the Eagles were beaten 48-15. At the break New Zealand had a 19-15 lead as Whitney Hansen’s team struggled will indiscipline before pulling away in the second half.

This Friday the USA play a Wallaroos team they dramatically drew with 31-31 at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Under the guidance of interim head coach Sam Needs, Australia were unglamorously beaten 24-0 by Canada in their tournament opener.

The fixture is being placed at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, the same venue the Eagles set an attendance record of 10,518 in a 26-14 loss to Canada.

Bella Vogel, fly-half, and Hann Humphreys, flanker, retain starting spots after impressive debuts against New Zealand in Sacramento. After they made their debuts from the replacements last time out, Reece Woods, Abigail Paton and Telesi Uhatafe have maintained their places on the bench.

It is among the reserved that Hanratty has made his only two changes. Paige Stathopoulos is the replacement hooker ahead of Hope Cooper, while Tessa Hann is a forward replacement and joins from the Sevens programme.

Jack Hanratty, USA Women’s Eagles head coach, said: “Last week we wanted to showcase that we could score from different areas of the game. We showed glimpses of that but we definitely want more. The starting team has remained unchanged allowing the group to build on the good and have a redo of what needs to be better.

“Australia and the USA seem to be growing a rivalry. Last year’s RWC tie was likely one of the games of the tournament but it was still a tie and I know both sides will be targeting this as a win.

“We had some exciting moments last week, but the aim is creating consistent momentum on both sides of the ball. We are trying to compete everyday at training – not just on match day. Paige comes in as a consistent performer in the Eagles jersey and with [Loughborough] Lightning this year.

“Although Tessa was a late addition into our traveling squad, Tessa has been performing week in and out as part of the Sevens program – also showcasing an exciting development of more fluid movement between the programs to allow for the athletes to chase results not just as Sevens or XVs but as Eagles.”

USA Women’s Eagles squad v Australia

15. Alev Kelter
14. Bulou Mataitoga
13. Emily Henrich
12. Katana Howard
11. Erica Coulibaly
10. Bella Vogel
9. Cass Bargell
1. Hope Rogers
2. Kathryn Treder
3. Mae Sagapolu
4. Hallie Toffee
5. Erica Jarrell-Searcy (C)
6. Hann Humphreys
7. Georgie Perris-Redding
8. Freda Tafuna

Replacements
16. Paige Stathopoulos
17. Reece Woods
18. Alivia Weatherman
19. Kapoina Bailey
20. Tessa Hann
21. Abigail Paton
22. Kristin Bitter
23. Telesi Uhatafe