New USA coach Richie Walker has named his first Women's Eagles Sevens squad for their home round of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Atlanta on 8-9 April.
The inspirational Jillion Potter takes over the role of captain again with the hosts looking to improve on their eighth position in the overall series standings at a tournament they reached the final of in 2015.
“We have some real good experience,” saidWalker, who succeeded Jules McCoy as coach only last week. “We have some good speed and we have some good power. To have Jillion Potter as the team captain is massive for the younger kids. They respect her tremendously.”
Meya Bizer and Nicole Heavirland will both make their series debuts, having previously played for the Women’s Eagles in 15s. They, along with Richelle Stephens and Kate Zackary, played for the USA Falcons in invitational tournaments in Las Vegas and Vancouver last month.
“Meya's powerful, she knows rugby, and she has a good rugby brain. Nicole stepped up and proved herself. She’s a strong runner and very aggressive. That’s the look we have in this team – aggressive and a lot of speed.”
Lauren Doyle and Stephens were unavailable for the last round in Sao Paulo because of injury, a tournament where the Eagles reached the Cup semi-finals, but Kelly Griffin will miss her first tournament since the series began in 2012-13.
The hosts will face New Zealand – the side that overwhelmed them 50-12 in last year’s final – as well as Japan and Spain in Pool C at the Fifth-Third Bank Stadium as the countdown to the sevens’ debut at the Olympic Games continues.
“I still have a patient outlook,” Walker said of the run-up to Rio 2016.
“For me, it isn’t about the hard work right now. Believe me, when we come back from Langford, that’s when we’re going to switch on to just all hard work. If I do my job and I do it right with the time we have, we should be able to prepare well enough for the Olympics.
“Every single day, every single minute matters.”
USA squad: Jillion Potter (captain), Megan Bonny, Kate Zackary, Amelia Bizer, Ryan Carlyle, Nicole Heavirland, Alev Kelter, Bui Baravilala, Lauren Doyle, Richelle Stephens, Kristen Thomas, Jessica Javelet.
THREE NEW FACES FOR NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand coach Sean Horan has named three debutants in a squad of 14 for the back-to-back tournaments in Atlanta and Langford next month.
Janna Vaughan and Terina Te Tamaki joined the contracted squad in January, while Theresa Fitzpatrick is a member of the sevens development squad and gets her chance to impress in only the second occasion of back-to-back events on the women’s series.
Selica Winiata returns to the squad after a year’s absence, while Shiray Tane and Stacey Waaka return from injury. Horan, though, will be without some key players through injury in Gayle Broughton, Kayla McAlister – top try-scorer in Sao Paulo with 10 – and Huriana Manuel for the trip.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to grow with back-to-back tournaments,” Horan said of newcomers Vaughan and Te Tamaki.
“They’re both young, exciting rugby players who bring different dynamics to the team. Terina is a forward with great leg speed and Janna is very physical around the contact and at the clean out so in 2016 we thought this was something we needed to look at.
“She’s (Theresa) a great rugby player, very powerful, especially carrying the ball. She has great catch and pass skills, and good explosive speed off the mark so that all adds another string to our bow.
“We had to make some tough decisions as always with selection. We’re looking at bringing some players back and others have had to stay back to work and focus on their bodies to give them every chance for Rio.
Rio the focus
“We want to give all our players the opportunity to put their hands up for the Olympics.”
New Zealand are the defending champions in Atlanta, one of four tournaments they won in another series title-winning season in 2014-15. They will face hosts USA, Japan and Spain in Pool C at the Fifth-Third Bank Stadium for the 8-9 April event.
They will arrive in North America lying joint second in the series with Canada on 28 points, 12 points behind leaders Australia who have won the opening two rounds in Dubai and Sao Paulo in impressive fashion.
The main focus for Horan and his New Zealand chargers though is Rio 2016 in August.
“The focus for 2016 was getting the squad ready for Rio and it would be great to win the World Series,” admitted Horan.
“Australia have jumped ahead pretty dramatically which is great for the game, but we believe 2016 is not going to be remembered for the series, it’s going to be remembered for Rio.
“Our focus is to get a quality squad with depth that can do the job in August.”
New Zealand squad: Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sarah Goss (captain), Tyla Nathan-Wong, Shiray Tane, Terina Te Tamaki, Ruby Tui, Janna Vaughan, Stacey Waaka, Katarina Whata-Simpkins, Niall Williams, Selica Winiata, Portia Woodman.
