USA vs Canada – The Keys to Victory

The day of reckoning is upon us and come Saturday evening there will be one more team with anime invitations in their inbox. While the game in Hamilton was exciting from a spectator’s point of view, it was rife with errors from both teams and in terms of execution left acres of room for improvement during the week. It’s impossible to expect perfection in such a short time but here are three key areas that each team will need to address to get the win in San Diego.

 

USA

1) Win Parity at the Scrum – The lineout was fine but the scrum was under massive pressure with both Canadian props, Djustice Sears-Duru and Jake Ilnicki, getting the better of their opposites. It’s not just the front row who were short of the mark. The second row were on skates and couldn’t lock out. Chris Baumann and Nate Brakeley have been added and should help stem the tide but it’s curious that Joe Taufete’e has been left on the bench.

If Big Joe is fit to play one would think his extra bulk and Premiership experience would be more than welcome in the starting side with James Hilterbrand to play the second half ‘finisher’ role but John Mitchell has opted for the opposite. Baumann must hold fast to allow Hilterbrand a quick strike back to Cam Dolan, and the Eagles just might get some invaluable front foot ball on first phase possession.

2) Show Urgency at the Breakdown – How many times did the Eagles lose possession at the breakdown? The actual number isn’t important, it was too much. When the ball was recycled, too often it was slowed because the support wasn’t there on time. Perhaps the players were unsure of their responsibility but whatever the case winning the ball must be priority No 1 in San Diego. The forwards especially need to be flying into the rucks to give the halfbacks more time on the ball.

In that respect Nate Augspurger must also show more urgency to get the ball away. His service was improved from a languid outing against Ireland but there are still times when he looks to be in two minds. Augspurger was himself caught tackling or rucking on occasions when he shouldn’t have been. If his forwards show more commitment to doing the dirty work it will help their scrumhalf perform his core role more efficiently – moving the ball quickly.

3) Tighten the Fringes – The Eagles’ defense wasn’t great against Canada but the issues weren’t missed tackles or holes up the middle, it was misalignment or negligence around the fringes that did the damage. That includes both the post defense off the breakdown and out wide on the sidelines. The wingers were giving too much space on the outside and the inside cover didn’t recognize overlaps quickly enough. Canada’s first try exploited that problem perfectly.

The other issue has been the first defenders at the ruck, who are being pushed out in dynamic situations and leaving huge gaps. This has been a recurrent problem during this assembly. The Eagles have shown they can score points when on offer but their standards in defense have not been the same.

 

CANADA

1) Turn Pressure Into Points – It’s cliché but this was the primary reason the team failed to win in Hamilton. On numerous occasions they entered the ‘red zone’ and failed to come away with points. At any level it’s bad for business, at international level it’s suicidal. This isn’t to rub salt into Shane O’Leary’s missed kicks or Andrew Coe’s try that wasn’t. These things happen. Even the best kickers miss and at least some of Coe’s misfortune can be attributed to Marcel Brache knocking him off-balance.

The real culprits were poor decision making and execution at critical moments. Kicking the ball away with clean possession and under no pressure; losing the ball in contact; coughing up possession at a dominant scrum. Canada must be more clinical in scoring position and to do so they must protect the ball and be more patient. Speed of attack is important but not more so than control. Breathe and reload.

2) Get the Ball to Taylor Paris – Before the game we knew who the danger men were in the Canadian lineup. DTH van der Merwe was shifted inside to get more ‘punch’ in the midfield and get him more ball. It worked. The other blade, however, was left badly neglected. If you want to win big matches your best attacking players need to see the ball and that didn’t happen enough in Hamilton.

Besides the obvious that Paris is a lethal finisher and getting him the ball increases the likelihood of a score, it also puts tremendous pressure on his opposite. In this case it’s Mike Te’o, who just happens to be the USA’s most menacing stepper. Te’o, however, has shown frailties in defense in the past and putting doubt in his mind early might just affect his decision making later in the game. Get the ball to Paris and ask questions of the Eagles defense out wide.

3) Don’t Give Away Cheap Points – Another that should seem obvious, but the USA were virtually gifted 21 of their 28 points last week. A botched kickoff reception that saw Brache nearly take it in himself and Nick Civetta on hand for a simple finish. Embarrassingly soft maul defense that saw Civetta cross again after Todd Clever had ripped clean through the middle. The pass to Te’o that was a telegram dipped in chocolate and wrapped in silk ribbon.

All of these are mental errors, not questions of ability. It’s one thing to concede a try after 15 phases of hard defense. It’s not acceptable to hand out free passes in test rugby. Canada can win in San Diego but to do so they must – above all else – stay focused through to the final whistle.