The USA booked a spot in the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan, and, perhaps more importantly, got back on the winning side with a 28-15 defeat of Canada Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
The USA will go on now to Japan to play the Japanese in the second pool match in the PNC, but win or lose in that game, they will play in the semifinals against either Samoa or Fiji (most likely) a week later.
This was not a perfect game, and several silly and avoidable turnovers almost led to Canadian tries—tries that Japan most assuredly would score. However, some desperate cover defense and overall hard work off the ball ensured a USA victory.
The Eagles started the game well, securing the ball off their kickoff and moving into the Canadian 22. But a slightly mistimed run stymied their first attack and certainly, while the Eagles had two weeks together before this game, the timing of everything with test match opposition is something else.
Canada survived the first period of pressure and then when they got a penalty in the middle of the field, flyhalf Peter Nelson pointed to the posts and smacked over an impressive 49-meter kick to give his side the lead at 3-0. Very soon after that Canada was penalized for no tackler release and Luke Carty equalized for the USA. The Eagles continued on the front foot. A good kick chase set up quick hands to Conner Mooneyham on the right wing and he looked very dangerous. While he was stopped, soon afterward the USA got their first try.
Some more good passing from the tight five players, who obviously had been working on that part of their game, set up a 3-on-2 with No. 8 Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz, center Tomasso Boni, and Mooneyham. They executed that nicely and Mooneyham tore off down the sideline. He lost his footing near the tryline but his momentum took him over. Carty took too long to line up the conversion so it remained 8-3.
Opening It Up
Soon it was 13-3. With Canada on the attack they tried a grubber was USA fullback Mitch Wilson trapped between his legs. He promptly retrieved the ball and booted it downfield. The chase was on and when eventually the ball returned to the right side, with Carty looping Tavite Lopeti and sending a huge pass to Mooneyham for the wings second.
That made it 13-3. Notably, Mooneyham seemed to pick up a knock on that earlier kick-chase. He remained in the game but seemed to be in some discomfort when he went into contact.
Canada kept working and off a gator roll by the USA they were able to get some territory. Wing Nic Benn almost scored but was held up by Wilson. Moments later, off a lineout, the Canadians ran a maul and then executed a nice inside pass play to put Benn over. That made it 13-8.
The Eagles had some chances as Carty started to identify opportunities to pop little kicks into the corner. The Americans did not think much of the Canadian lineout and they weren't wrong. Several overthrows were interspersed with shorter throws that were picked off.
Still, they managed to secure enough ball to avoid giving up a try on their own throw.
But a mistake in the Canadian backline turned the ball over in their half. The Eagles didnt rush it, consolidated possession, and then Carty popped a little chip kick over the defense. The USA flyhalf regathered his own kick and had Wilson by his side. Carty immediately passed to his fullback and Wilson raced in from 20 meters out to score. Now it was three tries for Life University alumni, and a lead of 18-8.
Canada's opportunities to answer were undercut once again by lineout woes, and the half ended 18-8 for the USA.
Second Half
It all went the USA's way early in the second period. Canadian prop Calixto Martinez was sin binned and Carty slotted a 42-meter kick right afterward. The Eagles almost made it 26-8 after that and Mooneyham almost made it a hat trick as a wide kick from Carty just rolled off the wing's fingertips.
And then Canada got hit with a tough call. Overall, Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi was on top of his game, but in one instance Canada was controlling the scrum and had earned a penalty; at the same time captain and No. 8 Lucas Rumball picked up the ball, powered past scrumhalf JP Smith, and was gone on a huge run. Too bad, Gnecchi had already blown his whistle. Rumball, who has been a shining light for a Canadian team that needs it, was understandably miffed.
From the ensuing penalty Canada's lineout didn't work and the USA was able to get out of trouble. Bonis snagged the ball out of his opposite number's hands, and Carty popped another kick to the corner. Canada cleared, but off the next USA lineout, Lopeti weaved his way past several Canadian defenders. The Eagles swarmed in, won the ball, and on the next pass hooker Kapeli Pifeleti powered to the line but was held up ... or was he?
Held up was the call, but on a TMO check it was clear he hand grounds the ball on the line first. Try good. Conversion good. USA up 28-8.
Canada's answer was to take the USA apart on some kicking back-and-forth. The USA defense became scattered and when Ben Lesage sidestepped a blitzing Corey Daniel, it was a four-on-one. Cooper Coats was set free and with his try and Nelson's conversion, it was a two-score game again at 28-15.
The next 15 minutes or so seemed to be about the USA trying stuff and it backfiring on them. A huge run from Fa'anana-Schultz ended with the No. 8 losing the ball as he was tackled. Canada countered and looked very threatening. Mooneyham's tackle, driving a ballcarrier into touch, saved the day.
