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The US squad has been training for the past week at the rugby complex in Glendale maintaining an intense schedule including two-a-days, video sessions, mental skills sessions, conditioning and recovery work.
"Having a week of training before a match is unprecedented for our squad,” head coach Kathy Flores said.
“We've been able to take the time necessary to build the foundations of our offensive and defensive principles, which we will continue to construct in this pre-World cup environment.”
The US heads into this match eager to redeem itself since its last showing in which it was held scoreless losing 15-10 to Canada. In fact, the US hasn’t won a match against Canada since 2006 and in the past 10 games is 4-6 overall against the Canadians.
“Our past experience with Canada has shown they are particularly strong attackers in the open field and hard defenders at the set piece,” Flores said. “This week we've worked hard to contest in both of those areas so we look forward to a much stronger performance than we had at Nations Cup last August.
“This match is very important to us. We have yet to fully compete against Canada and we can wait no longer to prove we will be competitive in the next World Cup.”
The CanAm matches in Colorado are the first of five games this summer as the team kicks off its journey towards the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 to be held in England next August and September.
The US women will see their remaining games in the Nations Cup in Toronto in August.
Tickets are just $15 for the match, or for groups buying 10 tickets, the 11 will be free! Children under 12 get in free, as well.
Click on http://usarugby.org/goto/usa_vs_canada to buy tickets online. USA Rugby is planning to webcast this weekend’s match.
Please visit www.usarugby.org for more information and to find out how to watch it live!
US lineup:
1. Farrah Douglas (Chicago-North Shore)
2. Mari Wallace (Beantown)
3. Jamie Burke (Beantown)
4. Jillion Potter (University of New Mexico)
5. Sarah Walsh (Chicago North Shore)
6. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries)
7. Beckett Royce (Oregon Sports Union)
8. Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues)
9. Claudia Braymer (Albany)
10. Stephanie Bruce (Berkeley All-Blues)
11. Ashley Kmiecik (Emerald City Mudhens)
12. Mel Kanuk (Washington DC Furies)
13. Lynelle Kugler (Glendale)
14. Vanesha McGee (New York)
15. Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues)
Reserves:
16. Lara Vivolo (New York)
17. Lisa Butts (UC-Davis)
18. Sharon Blaney (Beantown)
19. Mel Denham (Beantown)
20. Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries)
21. San Juanita Moreno (Oregon Sports Union)
22. Victoria Folayan (Berkeley All-Blues)
