Chiefs on show as USA tackle Canada

By Mark Stevens
20/10/22

Six Exeter Chiefs players have been named in the USA Women’s squad to face Canada in Sunday’s Pool B encounter in Auckland.

Inspirational No.8 Kate Zackary will once again lead the Eagles into action, joined by club-mates Hope Rogers, Rachel Johnson, Gabby Cantorna and Jennine Detiveaux in the starting line-up. Summer signing Charli Jacoby is named on the bench, but there is no place for fly-half Megan Foster.

The USA come into the game on the back of a 30-17 victory over Japan last weekend, whilst Canada were 22-12 victors over Italy.

USA coach Rob Cain said ahead of the game against their North America rivals: ““USA against Canada is always a massive test match. At a World Cup, it’s an even bigger game for us both. Canada has shown what they can do really well so far and we are excited at the challenges that are ahead.

“We know what we need to do and we know how we are going to do it. Sunday is all about us acting on what we need for more minutes. We get that right, we get the result we want.”

Canada, meanwhile, have started with back-to-back wins and will once again include Chiefs duo Emily Tuttosi and DeLeaka Menin in their starting line-up for the game.

Hooker Tuttosi has been in scintillating form so far, scoring a hat-trick of tries in their opening win against Japan - and then adding a brace last weekend against Italy.

There pre-game planning, however, has been hit with the loss of scrum-half Brianna Miller, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a serious injury against Italy.

Miller was one of Canada’s standout players in the team’s first two pool , scoring two tries against Japan. However, after developing symptoms in the hours after Canada’s bonus-point victory last Sunday, she was taken to hospital where it was discovered she had suffered significant internal injuries.

In addition to Miller, former Chiefs fly-half Taylor Perry had successful surgery in New Zealand after sustaining a knee injury in the lead up to Canada’s World Cup opener against Japan and will be replaced in the squad by hooker Veronica Harrigan.

Head coach, Kevin Rouet said: “Losing Taylor and Brianna is of course difficult for the squad, but it’s out of our control and we’re looking forward now. We’re exploring options to bring in additional cover, and it’s great to already have Veronica here with the group, but we have full confidence in anyone who represents Canada and this team, and we are fully focused on what should be a good game against the USA.”