PNC 2024 – USA vs Canada – ARN Guide

The USA start their 2024 Pacific Nations Cup account when they host Canada in greater Los Angeles on Saturday. It’s been three years since the neighboring countries last faced each other in a test match. While the Eagles were victorious in that World Cup qualifying series, ultimately both teams would miss out on last year’s flagship tournament in France.

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 19 (66.01 points)
2024-07-12 – USA 7, Scotland 42 (Washington DC)
2024-07-05 – USA 20, Romania 22 (Chicago)
2023-11-18 – Spain 12, USA 42 (La Vila)
2023-11-11 – Brazil 3, USA 48 (La Vila)
2023-08-19 – Georgia 22, USA 7 (Tbilisi)

Current World Ranking: 21 (61.39 points)
2024-08-25 – Canada 28, Japan 55 (Vancouver)
2024-07-12 – Canada 35, Romania 22 (Ottawa)
2024-07-06 – Canada 12, Scotland 73 (Ottawa)
2023-11-18 – Brazil 15, Canada 40 (La Vila)
2023-11-11 – Spain 42, Canada 20 (La Vila)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

2 Kapeli Pifeleti replaces Dylan Fawsitt
3 Alex Maughan replaces David Ainu’u
4 Jason Damm replaces Vili Helu
7 Cory Daniel replaces Sam Golla
15 Mitch Wilson replaces AJ MacGinty (No10 vs Scotland)

14 Takoda McMullin replaces Cooper Coats

NOTES

• Scott Lawrence has made five changes to his Eagles starting lineup that were beaten by Scotland in DC last month… Jason Damm is handed his first test start though at lock instead of his preferred No8 spot… captain Greg Peterson is the only genuine lock in the squad with San Diego teammate Vili Helu providing cover
• Saracens hooker Kapeli Pifeleti is the only European-based player in the USA match day squad… the rest of the group plies their trade in Major League Rugby
• with AJ MacGinty unavailable the pivotal flyhalf jersey goes to Luke Carty… he lined up at fullback against the Scots but performed well at No10 for Chicago in the final weeks of the MLR campaign… Mitch Wilson steps in at fullback though he largely played wing for the Free Jacks this season
• two players are set to make their USA test debuts off the bench, both front rowers… hooker Sean McNulty has previously represented Ireland at u20 level… tighthead prop Pono Davis was a collegiate football player before switching his sporting focus to rugby
• Kingsley Jones has opted for continuity despite a mixed performance against Japan… the only alternation to the run-on side sees Takoda McMullin given a first test start, joining brother Talon McMullin in the backline… both twins scored tries against Japan
• Takoda lined up at fullback for the Vancouver Highlanders but will play on the wing against the USA… Andrew Coe switches from No14 to No15 with Cooper Coats dropping to the bench
• Ethan Fryer starts his third straight test for Canada at openside flanker… the 22-year-old represented both Canada and the USA at age-grade level… he was born and raised in Washington state but qualifies for the Maple Leafs through his Canadian father

QUOTES

Scott Lawrence (Head Coach)

“The men have been fortunate enough to prepare in the USA 7s home base in Chula Vista. We’re grateful for the use of the wonderful facilities which have allowed the team to prepare without distraction.”

Kingsley Jones (Head Coach)

“We’ve spoken a lot about how we need and want to start our matches better. Saturday’s match against the United States is not just another opportunity for us to measure ourselves against a good team, but an important contest that will dictate our position heading into the play-offs in Japan.

“This type of high stakes match will be good preparation for next year, when we will face the United States in the Pacific Nations Cup in a match that will help determine direct Rugby World Cup qualification.”

PREDICTION

The Eagles have dominated the head-to-head meetings over the past decade but much has changed since their last engagement in 2021. Both sides could be considered experimental and are short of their overseas professionals, though Canada have seen almost none since the 2019 World Cup. The Maple Leafs were more successful in July by virtue of the win over Romania, and will fancy their chances in the scrum. A poor start against Japan last week however means the underdog tag remains in place for now. USA are favorites at home.

TEAMS

USA
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Jason Damm, 5 Greg Peterson (capt.), 6 Paddy Ryan, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 JP Smith, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Mitch Wilson

Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Vili Helu, 20 Thomas Tu’avao, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Dom Besag, 23 Chris Mattina

CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Conor Young, 4 Izzak Kelly, 5 Kaden Duguid, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Ethan Fryer, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Talon McMullin, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Takoda McMullin, 15 Andrew Coe

Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Cole Keith, 19 James Stockwood, 20 Matthew Oworu, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Mark Balaski, 23 Cooper Coats

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, August 31
Venue: Dignity Health Stadium, Carson
Kickoff: 18:00 local (21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 77°F (25°C), wind W 10-15mph (16-24 km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN Digital (Canada), Peacock (USA), RugbyPass TV

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistants: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) & Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (65): Canada 39, USA 24, Draw 2
2021-09-11 – USA 38, Canada 16 (Infinity Park, Glendale) *RWC Qualifier
2021-09-04 – Canada 34, USA 21 (Swilers Rugby Park, St. John’s) *RWC Qualifier
2019-09-07 – Canada 15, USA 20 (BC Place, Vancouver)
2019-07-27 – USA 47, Canada 19 (Infinity Park, Glendale)
2019-03-08 – USA 30, Canada 25 (Starfire Stadium, Seattle)
2018-06-23 – Canada 17, USA 42 (Wanderers Grounds, Halifax)
2018-02-10 – USA 29, Canada 10 (Papa Murphy’s Park, Sacramento)
2017-07-01 – USA 52, Canada 16 (Torero Stadium, San Diego) *RWC Qualifier
2017-06-24 – Canada 28, USA 28 (Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton) *RWC Qualifier
2017-02-18 – Canada 34, USA 51 (Swangard Stadium, Burnaby)