USA vs Canada a Big Rivalry and Crucial PNC Game
USA vs Canada a Big Rivalry and Crucial PNC Game
What’s at stake with the USA vs Canada test match this coming weekend? Plenty.
Rivalry
USA vs Canada is THE rivalry in rugby for the Eagles, and in much of history it’s the northerners who have held sway. Overall the two nations have played each other 65 times, with Canada winning 39, USA 24, and two ties. The Eagles have played no other nation even half as many times (next most is Japan at 24).
This rivalry has lain fallow for the last few years and, astonishingly, USA has not played Canada since 2021, when they split a two-game Rugby World Cup Qualifier series, with Canada winning 34-21 in St. John’s, Nfld., and the USA winning 38-16 in Glendale. On aggregate score the USA moved on, but in the end neither team made it to France 2023.
For many years Canada was well ahead in the series, but a major shift happened starting in 2014 in Sacramento. That’s when the USA stormed back from 28-10 deficit to win 38-35. Following that, the Eagles beat the Canadians in Burnaby on a late AJ MacGinty drop goal and continued to win, taking three more before a 28-28 draw in 2017. After that, the USA won six in a row before 2021’s result in St. John’s.
Leading into 2014, from 2004-2013, Canada had won 14 and lost two. Since then, it’s USA 12 wins, Canada one win, and a tie.
Certainly, then, Canada wants to reverse their fortunes. Certainly, also, the USA wants to beat their longtime rivals on home soil.
USA plays Canada August 31 at Dignity Health Sports Park in the LA area. KO is 6PM Pacific Time. Ticket prices as low as $25. Go here to get your tickets>>
Some Fun Facts
Canada won all 10 of their first home tests vs the USA before losing 15-14 in Markham, Ont. in 1995.
USA 28-16 win in Saranac Lake in 1988 remained the Eagles’ largest winning margin against Canada until 2003, and that winning margin wasn’t eclipsed until 2015.
Canada is 25-9-1 at home, while the USA is 10-14-1 at home.
Pacific Nations Cup
The Pacific Nations Cup sees the USA, Canada, and Japan in one pool and in the other pool are Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. The top two from each pool will play in the semifinals in Japan on September 14. The third-place teams will play September 15 to see who finishes 5th.
The final and the 3rd-4th games will be September 21.
So to have a shot at the championship you need to get at least one win.
Canada is up against it as they lost last week to Japan in Vancouver by the score of 55-28. It was an entertaining game and the Canadians showed some attacking flash, but their defense struggled. Now, of course, the Canadians need to win to ensure they get two games in Japan, instead of one.
The same, sort of, applies to the USA. While they haven’t played Japan yet, the Eagles know they will need to beat Canada to put themselves in the best position. Beat Canada and you’re into the semis. Lose and you have to beat an in-form Japan to get there.
Also last week, Fiji hammered Samoa in a bit of a surprise result 42-16. So Friday’s Samoa vs Tonga game (live on Peacock at Midnight) should decide which of those two teams will make the semis. Then, 6PM PT at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. the USA plays Canada with the semifinals at stake as well.
Pacific Nations Cup Matches (Dates local)
Aug. 24 Samoa 16 Fiji 42
Aug. 25 Japan 55 Canada 28
Aug. 31 Tonga at Samoa
Aug. 31 Canada at USA
Sept. 6 Fiji at Tonga
Sept. 7 USA at Japan
Sept. 14 Semifinals
Sept. 15 5th-6th Game
Sept. 21 3rd-4th Game and PNC Final
USA plays Canada August 31 at Dignity Health Sports Park in the LA area. KO is 6PM Pacific Time. Ticket prices as low as $25. Go here to get your tickets>>
The Future
The Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2025 will serve as the Rugby World Cup qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The top three teams outside of Fiji and Japan (already qualified) will qualify. The lowest non-qualified team will play the South American runner-up for another spot.
So while this year there are no World Cup ramifications, there will be. And think on 2025’s schedule, which will see the USA host Japan and play Canada in Canada. Those should be huge games.
