The USA Women's 15s team faces a key game in the new international competitive format as they take on Australia in Ottawa Saturday.

This is the Pacific Four, with the top three going in the fall's WXV Tier 1 along with the top three from the Six Nations. So what that means is the team that finishes 4th out of those four gets tracked in the Tier 2.

Since the USA has already lost to Canada 50-17 in April, and, let's face it, are not favored against New Zealand, then this game against Australia is the pathway to that Tier 1 spot. In 2022 the Eagles defeated Australia 16-14, so that indicates this year's clash will be close as well. But it's worth pointing out that the players who delivered all the points for the USA in 2022—Hope Rogers with a try and Gabby Cantorna with a conversion and three penalty goals—are not in the Eagle lineup for Saturday.

Cantorna wasn't named in the USA roster and while Rogers was, she has picked up an injury and can't play. 

Meanwhile, Emily Henrich has also picked up an injury leaving a gap in the midfield. So ... just after GRR said of course Kate Zachary won't be expected to play center for the Eagles ... she's playing center for the Eagles.

The experienced Catie Benson (capped 34 times) comes in to replace Rogers at loosehead, while Zackary, who normally plays No. 8 for the USA, steps into the #13 jersey. Rachel Johnson, who normally has played openside flanker for the Eagles, slides to No. 8 just as she did for Exeter when the Chiefs needed Zackary at #13. Georgia Perris-Redding takes on the #7 jersey and debutante Paluvava'u Fredo Tafuna, the power-charging loose forward from Lindenwood, takes #6.

So it's a mix of old and new to be sure. Jennine Detiveaux returns at wing and provides experience in a backline that has plenty of it—Tess Feury, newly-signed by the Leicester Tigers, is at fullback. Lotte Clapp and Zackary all know their way around the pitch. Further in you've got a younger, more developing group. Eti Haungatau will benefit greatly from having Zackary with her. It's good news once more that Interim Head Coach Rich Ashfield has gone with McKenzie Hawkins at flyhalf. Consistency there, especially when you have a still-young player taking on the role, is important. Hawkins will partner with a fellow Lindenwood alum in Taina Tukuafu. A tenacious, scrappy play, Tukuafu was a serious contender for the MA Sorensen Award and while she hasn't been capped, we expect her to play like a veteran.

In the tight five, the player who beat out Tukafu for the Sorensen, Keia Mae Sagapolu, will bring a lead-by-example mindset to the team despite having just the one cap. She will be, and needs to be, a force at tighthead. Kathryn Treder has a good chance to make the hooker position her own. And more is being asked of the second row, as it should, with Evelyn Ashenbrucker being named vice captain and Hallie Taufoou has the strength and fortitude to play second row and the speed and mobility to play center or excel at7s.

So we've got a forward in the backs and a (sometime) back in the forwards, giving a nod to how attacking shapes are created now. You usually need both everywhere. But could this be a hint at a USA team that plays a bit more agressively with the ball in hand? Could this be a hint of a team that will actually break the line and not just wait for a penalty?

“The focus is really on us progressing from what we achieved in Spain," said Ashfield, referring to a victory over the Spanish and a loss versus Canada. "We brought in new caps and we want to move our game plan forward, try to play our game a little faster. The new debuts were all brought in for a reason. They are all exciting talents, and we want them to be able to express themselves and feel comfortable in this environment. Many of them have a long future ahead of them with the national teams.” 

"Camp so far this week has been really great; the girls are coming off a big preparation week; the last week we had a top 40 camp and now we've gone into performance mode," said Zackary after the four Pacific Four captains met for pictures at Parliament Hill in Canada's capital. "The transition's been seamless. I think the girls are eager to play this weekend and the energy's really high."