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Written by Alex Goff
Sunday, 31 July 2011 23:54 |
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Steinberg Tinkers with Women Eagles Formula |
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National Teams -
USA Women
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The USA Women’s National Team have just a short time to come together with a group of new players and a new coach and face the World Cup Runners Up, England on Tuesday.
New Head Coach Pete Steinberg knows it will be a tough road, but has some thoughts as to how to address it.
“We have some principles of how we will attack and defend,” Steinberg told RUGBYMag.com. “We will make changes in some specifics depending on our opponents, but we will stick to those principles.”
Such as? Physicality. It’s a benchmark of Steinberg’s teams, Penn State and Keystone. These teams play very physically, especially on defense, and he will expect his Eagles to do the same.
“We might change our approach to an opposing team’s scrum move or other play, but we will always be physical in defense,” he said.
That is a crucial part of their Tuesday night match against England at Appleby College in Oakville, Ont. England is one of the most physical teams in the world.
Steinberg said he will also be experimenting. He and his staff will tinker with aspects of preparation and recovery, using tried-and-true methods of high performance, but tweaking them somewhat to see what works the best.
Among his early switch-ups is his decision not to name a squads captain. Farrah Douglas, Jamie Burke, Vanesha McGee and Kim Magrini will serve as a four-player leadership group. Other veterans, such as Amy Daniels and Pam Kosanke, will step in as leaders as well.
“I think it’s too much on one person to have just one player be responsible for a squad of 25,” said Steinberg. “It’s kind of an out-dated tradition. We will have game-day captains, but they will change. Off the field we will have a leadership group.”
One of the other changes in Steinberg’s squad is the lineup. Ten players return from the 2010 World Cup, with a couple of others expected to be available later. But that means he needed to pick 17 new players.
“We actually have a pretty good-sized core of players,” said Steinberg. “But we did have to bring in some new players. I took on the job in March, but hadn’t been involved in the women’s elite level in ten years, so I came in with a fresh eye. I watched every WPL [Women’s Premier League] match on video, and every World Cup match. Then what I wanted to do was put a big emphasis on the National All-Star Championships. I really don’t know what club many of the players came from. All I know is that they performed well at the NASC or before. Having looked at all those games, we picked the best players we could.”
Interestingly, the club distribution of Steinberg’s picks is enormously varied. Only three players come from the two finalists of the Women’s Premier League. Teams 3 and 4 boast five. Meanwhile, ten come from outside the WPL altogether.
“We have some very good athletes, and some very good rugby players; some experiences and some inexperienced,” said Steinberg. “Now I want to give them the tools to perform.”
USA Women’s Squad for Nation’s Cup
FORWARDS
Stacy Baker (Keystone), Libby Berg (Minnesota Valkyries), Stacey Bridges (At-Large), Jamie Burke (Beantown), Lisa Butts (Nor Cal Triple Threat), Sarah Chobot (Minnesota Valkyries), Kate Daley (Chicago North Shore), Lauren Daly (At-Large), Farrah Douglas (Washington DC Furies), Devin Keller (Keystone), Lynelle Kugler (Twin City Amazons), Laura Miller (Washington DC Furies), Shaina Turley (San Diego Surfers), Kittery Wagner (Beantown)
BACKS
Sadie Anderson (Penn State), Sylvia Braaten (Twin City Amazons), Rebecca Brafman (New York Rugby Club), Amy Daniels (Beantown), Katie Dowty (Beantown), Victoria Folayan (Berkeley All-Blues), Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore), Jennifer Lui (Chicago North Shore), Kaelene Lundstrum (Twin City Amazons), Kim Magrini (Keystone), Vanesha McGee (New York Rugby Club), Samantha Pankey (James River), Carrie White (Seattle Rugby)
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Written by Press Release
Sunday, 31 July 2011 22:15 |
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Army Camp has Bath, NYAC Flavor |
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Colleges -
Camps & Clinics
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| Camper Michael Dabulas working on box kick
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| Best back Charles Meagher with Danny Grewcock and Rich Pohlidal
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In a newly formed partnership with Bath Rugby U.K., New York Athletic Club and Play Ruby USA, West Point Rugby delivered its first-ever rugby sport camp at the United States Military Academy’s Anderson Rugby Complex. The four-day camp focused on leader development, team building, rugby core skill development, unit and positional-specific skills, decision making, speed/agility/quickness training and the West Point and Bath rugby experience.
78 campers enjoyed a 6-to-1 coach-to-athlete ratio, with featured coaches including West Point’s director of rugby and men’s head coach Rich Pohlidal, former USA National 7s player and Army associate head coach Justin Hundley, former USA National Team forwards coach and now Army forwards coach Bill LeClerc , Army athletic trainer Dana Johnston and MAJ Tim Hudson and Dr. Angie Fifer of the West Point Center For Enhanced Performance.
Alongside the West Point Staff, Bath was equally well represented with feature coach and Bath academy director Danny Grewcock, who retired from professional and international play in May. The former England international brought along several of Bath’s coaching staff, including former Bath Hooker James Deane, current Wales National Team prop Caryl Thomas and Bath community coach Steve Middleton.
Rounding out the staff were Ryszard Chadwick of Hartbury College, U.K., Tim Little, Troy Hall and Mike Petri of the Eagles and NYAC, Pat Coleman and Seamus Kelly of Cal, Canada U-20 Zahid Jethani, Frank Williams of PAL Jersey City Rugby, Matt Thomas of McQuaid Jesuit and Chris Mattina of Delaware University.
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Written by Press Release
Sunday, 31 July 2011 23:19 |
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Canada Gears Up for Nations Cup |
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Canada -
Women
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The U20 Nations Cup is over, and it is now time for the full national senior women's teams of Canada, England, South Africa and the U.S.A. to take center stage.
This will be Head Coach John Tait's first opportunity to work with Canada's senior XV's program, and he is looking forward to the chance to begin this new World Cup development cycle in earnest.
"This is my first assembly with our XV's side and I am excited to see this squad develop and improve over the next couple of weeks. Our long term goal is to compete for the 2014 World Cup title and this will be a great measuring stick for the program, to help us determine where we are and where we need to be.
Having teams of this caliber to compete against, in four tests over the course of two weeks, is very challenging for all involved. I believe the athletes we have representing Canada at this tournament are striving to become world class rugby players, and that excites me as a coach."
The group that Coach Tait has assembled in Southern Ontario features an impressive mixture of power and speed. Many of those who are present in camp have had the chance to wear the Canadian jersey recently, as members of the highly ranked women's Sevens program.
Impressive ball runners such as Jen Kish, Ghislaine Landry and Mandy Marchuk all featured heavily in Canada's dominant performances in various international Sevens tournaments last season, and will look bring their attacking mindset to these upcoming international test matches.
Canada's opening draw on August 2nd, versus South Africa, should offer some insight into where the various programs have picked up, following a hotly contested Women's World Cup, in 2010. Canada finished in 6th position at that event, due to a bitter three point defeat to the Americans on the tournament's final day. The memory of that loss will surely be high in the minds of the World Cup veterans present in the Canadian ranks, and the team will want to lay down a marker against the 10th ranked South Africans, on Day #1 of the 2011 Nations Cup.
You can follow all the Nations Cup action at www.womensnationscup.com
Those wishing match updates can follow Rugby Canada's social networks on Facebook and Twitter
As of now, it is our understanding that internet availability at the Oakville match site is down, due to technical problems. Therefore, it remains to be seen if a live broadcast will be possible. Recorded matches will be archived at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-rugby
Canadian National Senior Women's Team:
Jessica Belchos (Markham Irish) Innisfil, ON
Marie Bosco (Ottawa Irish) Ottawa, ON
Andrea Burke (Capilano North) Vancouver, BC
Kim Donaldson (Burnaby Lake) Vancouver, BC
Jessica Dovanne (Velox Valkyries) Victoria, BC
Arielle Dubissette-Borrice (Toronto Nomads) Ajax, ON
Corinne Jacobsen (Burnaby Lake) Vancouver, BC
Maria Jaworski (Calgary Hornets) Calgary, AB b
Shannon Kane (Capilano) Victoria, BC
Jen Kish (Lep Tigers) Edmonton, AB
Ghislaine Landry (Toronto Scottish) Toronto, ON
Ashley MacDonald (Velox Valkyries) Corran Ban, PEI
Kayla Mack (Wild Oats) Saskatoon, SK
Mandy Marchak (Capilano) Winnipeg, MB
Brittany Orr (Lethbridge) Lethbridge, AB
Cheryl Phillips (Toronto Scottish) Toronto, ON
Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid (Club de Rugby de Quebec) Quebec City, PQ
Danielle Rowlands (Kirin RFC / Calgary Hornets) Colonsay, SK
Kelly Russell (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON
Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON
Laura Stoughton (Calgary Irish) Calgary, AB
Julia Sugawara (Burnaby Lake) Surrey, BC
Brandi Van Eeuwen (Cowichan) Duncan, BC
Brittany Waters (Meraloma) Vancouver, BC
Kelsey Willoughby (Lethbridge) Lethbridge, AB
Julianne Zussman (Town of Mount Royal RFC) Montreal, PQ
Staff:
Head Coach: John Tait
Assistant Coach: Sandro Fiorino
Team Manager: Penny Delaney
Press Officer: Jeff Hull
Athletic Therapist: Jason White
Athletic Therapist: Darren Wharrie
Nations Cup Match Day #1 (Oakville)
Tuesday 2nd August
4:30 pm - Canada vs. South Africa
6:30 pm - USA vs. England
Nations Cup Match Day #2 (Chatham)
Friday 5th August
5:00 pm - England vs. South Africa
7:00 pm - Canada vs. USA
Nations Cup Match Day #3 (Oakville)
Tuesday 9th August
4:30 pm – South Africa vs. USA
6:30 pm – Canada vs. England
Nations Cup Finals (Oakville)
Saturday 13th August
2:00 pm 3rd vs. 4th
4:00 pm 1st vs. 2nd
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Written by Bernie Decker
Sunday, 31 July 2011 21:01 |
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Colorado State Games 7s Full Report |
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School Age -
Boys
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The Denver East Angels U19 program earned the gold medal, Littleton the silver and Colorado Springs the bronze in 7s competition of the Colorado state games at Cheyenne Mountain High School sports complex in Colorado Springs on Saturday.
Denver were down 12-0 at halftime of the finals, but clawed their way back for the win with a superb second effort to claim the title.
Path to the medals
The Angels went 3-1-1 and were tied for second place with Colorado Springs Grizzlies in preliminary match play, but advanced to the gold medal fixture by virtue of a cumulative points differential with their downstate rivals of six. Littleton went into the title match as top seed with a 4-1 record, its only loss coming in the third round v the Grizzlies, 10-17.
Bronze: Colorado Springs v Cherry Creek
Colorado Springs jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first half with tries by the Markowsky brothers, Nick and Alex. Sevens All-American Michael Black, who directed his talented charges in stellar fashion from the slot position, stripped ball in the tackle at Creek’s 10 meter line and fed Alex Markowsky perfectly. The speedy scrumhalf stepped inside a defender and outpaced pursuit for Springs first score. Then Black grubbed ahead for onrushing Nick Markowsky who collected the ball on a friendly bounce and sped into goal.
Grizzlies scored twice shortly after break with tries by Marcus Whitting and Nick Markowsky before Cherry Creek got on the board with a slick inside move, burst, and touch down by Hayden Teehan, closing the gap to 22-5. Christian Flores finished tallies for Springs as Black put him into space at Creek’s 22 and he crossed for the score. CC’s Ben Pinkleman completed the scoring with a burst through the defense and a dash into goal for a final of Colorado Springs Grizzlies 35, Cherry Creek 21.
Gold and Silver
Tries by newcomer Abe Ruiz and wing Brian D’Ambrosia had Littleton up by ten at the half, but Denver East were able to erase that deficit and claim ultimate victory via the sure toe of Matt Fitzgerald.
Ruiz, a first year player for Littleton, electrified onlookers with a 60 meter scoot through traffic for a 5-0 lead after 2 minutes. D’Ambrosia got his try after a banging, jinking run up the touchline and a leap into goal: 10-0 to Littleton at the breather.
East burst out of the halftime gates, roaring into Littleton territory as deceptively canny 7s prop Adam Page ghosted through the defensive wall at midfield, but Littleton were up to the task forcing turnover and attacking well in the early stages of the second stanza. Then dynamo wing Taj Willingham fended off a tackle at his own 10 meter line. He broke through a second attempted stoppage en route to a try converted by Fitzgerald, and East drew to within five midway through the half.
Littleton made it a twelve point margin when Josh Brake popped into space at the Denver 22 and would not be denied the score as he dragged a hand tackler for ten meters before crossing, and it was 19-7 as Littleton looked the good bet to grab gold.
A spirited dash up touch by Miles Mackenzie realized seven more for the Angels with Fitzgerald’s conversion. With game over at next whistle, versatile Angel 7s prop Dante Brown broke into space and flippered a pair of defenders to draw East even, and Fitzgerald secured the title with his conversion at no time. Final: Denver East 21 - Littleton 19.
“I’m really proud of the way the boys played after the loss to Littleton (14-21) in our first match, as well as their ‘never say die’ attitude in the finals,” enthused a beaming Bill Baer, longtime Denver East coach.
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However, eight Eagles put up their own money and sacrificed the last few weeks to converge on Denver and get some early training in: Louis Stanfill, Eric Fry, Colin Hawley, Junior Sifa, Mate Moekiola, Blaine Scully, Kevin Swiryn, Brian McClenahan and Inaki Basauri.
