Super Series Preview

This weekend, Canada will host a mouth-watering week of test rugby when four of the top six teams from the 2014 World Cup come together.

The hosts are joined by the World Cup winners England, as well as USA and New Zealand in a series which will bestreamed live.

Coming less than a year after the World Cup, as expected there’s a wealth of new faces involved.

USA’s team sees just five players from the World Cup included, Canada’s squad has 14 new faces and New Zealand’s 12. England look to be taking the most experienced squad with just three uncapped players, but even then, it has a new-look about it.

There are new faces in the coaching set up too with England now overseen by Simon Middleton, who also leads their sevens programme, while New Zealand had appointed a new head coach in Greg Smith but he’s been replaced for this tour by Blues Assistant Coach Glenn Moore following his suspension from coaching for 14 weeks.

Canada remain led by Francois Ratier while Pete Steinberg remains at the helm for USA.

Typically a test series following a World Cup is often about sounding out new talent and experimenting on game plans and ideas. This year is a little different with the World Cup cycle being chopped by a year to fit in with the sevens cycle, but no less, the series has the whiff of the future about it with sevens priorities also meaning there are genuine opportunities for new players to represent their nations at the next World Cup - now just two years away!

For theUSA, Pete Steinberg is overseeing a major refresh of his squad.

He recently bought together the largest squad training camp in USA women’s rugby history with Women’s Eagles, AIG Women’s Collegiate All-Americans, and AIG Women’s Junior All-Americans all coming together – the results of which sees just five World Cup players selected and just a couple of fulltime fringe sevens contracted players making it.

The challenge for Steinberg will be, much like the other coaches there, to sound out new players while staying competitive over the three games.  The lowest ranked seed of the four sides out there- USA finished sixth at the World Cup last year – despite the opportunity to plead inexperience, Steinberg will want his side to demonstrate real progress over the series.

Canada’sFrancois Ratier has also named a new look squad.  His 27 features 14 new players but still an experienced enough core through the likes of Andrea Burk – a standout in Paris last summer – and others like Maria Samson, Brittany Waters and Julianne Zussman who bring plenty of nous.

Canada were a revelation at the World Cup, playing risky attacking rugby that won them huge support. In reaching the World Cup Final, they have set out their stall firmly as world-leading contenders and it will be fascinating to watch a new batch of players hopefully continue to play  stylish rugby.

Despite the last minute change of head coach,New Zealandwill travel with high hopes of going well bringing with them decent experience. Captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili, number 8 Linda Itunu and scrum-half Emma Jenson, will all play vital roles, but they are leading a side with a whole host of new faces. Sevens faces Honey Hireme and Selica Winiata are included while netballers Charmaine Smith and Keri Hayden are also named.

Finishing fifth at the last World Cup, the only way is up for the high achieving Black Ferns and this tournament offers them a rare opportunity to compete on the global stage outside of a World Cup year. It is needed.

On paperEnglandlook the most settled. Sarah Hunter will captain the squad as she returns to play in her first tournament since helping England to win World Cup while Emily Scarratt is also included alongside the likes of Marlie Packer, Heather Fisher, Rochelle Clark and Tamara Taylor whose experience will be vital.

The make up of their squad and their current World Cup winning status make England probable favourites to do best in the series, but given where we are in the cycle, perhaps this is less about winning and more about potential.

England:Bianca Blackburn, Rowena Burnfield, Rochelle Clark, Amy Cokayne, Victoria Cornborough, Lark Davies, Heather Fisher, Vicky Fleetwood, Hannah Gallagher, Sarah Hunter (capt), Megan Jones, Laura  Keates, Ceri Large, Justine Lucas, Katie Mason, Alexandra Matthews, Sarah McKenna, Marlie Packer, Fiona Pocock, Amber Reed, Leanne Riley. Emily Scarratt, Abbie Scott, Emilyt Scott, Tamara Taylor, Lydia Thompson, Kay Wilson, Rachel Lund

USA: Kathryn Augustyn, Catherine Benson , Stacey Bridges, Elizabeth Cairns, Sarah Chobot, Bianca Dalal, Cheta Emba, Tiffany Faaee, Jordan Gray , Nicole Heavirland, Molly Kinsella, Joanna Kitlinski, Jennifer Lui, Samantha Luther, Laura Miller , Deven Owsiany ,Jane Paar, Samantha Pankey, Sara Parsons, Lauren Rhode, Hope Rogers, Kimberly Rozier, Jennifer Sever, Kelsi Stockert, Alycia Washington , Jessica Wooden

Canada:Gillian Allen, Kirin, Tyson Beukeboom, Layota Blackwood, Andrea Burk, Olivia DeMerchant, Julia Folk, Lisa Gauthier, Chelsea Guthrie, Lori Josephson, Mary-Jane Kirby, Carolyn McEwan, Katie McNally, DaLeaka Menin, Barbara Mervin, Jacey Murphy, Jess Neilson, Cindy Nelles, Tiffany Picketts, Camile Provencal-Aube, Laura Russell, Maria Samson, Natasha Smith, Emma Taylor, Alex Tessier, Amanda Thornborough, Brittany Waters, Julianne Zussman,

New Zealand:Toka Natua, Fiao'o Fa'amausili (capt), Aleisha Nelson, Eloise Blackwell, Charmaine Smith, Charlene Halapua, Justine Lavea, Linda Itunu, Aldora Itunu, Sita Kuruyabaki, Teresa Te Tamaki, Rebekah Tufuga, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Angie Sisifa, Kendra Cocksedge, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Chelsea Alley, Stacey Waaka, Keri Hayden, Honey Hireme, Selica Winiata, Renee Wickliffe, Kiritapu Demant, Emma Jensen, Arihana Marino, Janna Vaughan

Women’s Rugby Super Series Schedule:June 27 – Calgary, AB (Calgary Rugby Park)Game 1:      USA vs. England. Kick Off: 4:00pm (local time)Game 2:      Canada vs. New Zealand. Kick Off: 6:30pm (local time)July 1 – Red Deer, AB (Red Deer Rugby Club)Game 1:      New Zealand vs. England. Kick Off: 4:00pm (local time)Game 2:      Canada vs. USA. Kick Off: 6:30pm (local time)July 5 – Edmonton, AB (Ellerslie Rugby Park)Game 1:      New Zealand vs. USA. Kick Off: 4:00pm (local time)Game 2:      Canada vs. England. Kick Off: 6:30pm (local time)