It’s easy to forget in the wake of the USA’s 37-29 loss to Japan last weekend that they scored just as many tries - four - as the Brave Blossoms.

The offense, so often struggling for tries, has shown signs of finishing. USA scrumhalf Mike Petri sees it.

“You’re not necessarily encouraged by a loss - it’s disappointing, it’s frustrating - but we were right there, right in it, and just let ourselves down in a number of ways,” Petri told Goff Rugby Report. “We were able to take some things from that game and use them as springboards for this week. And this week was a big one for us.”

The forwards and backs worked hard this week preparing for Canada in Sacramento. Part of it was fine-tuning the USA game so their playmakers can make plays.

“We have playmakers,” said Petri. “We have guys who can really play - Blaine Scully, Chris Wyles, Samu, Shalom. You have guys who can make big plays. You have guys like Scott LaValla who are brilliant in the lineout sequence. We just need to get everyone on the same page so we can let them play.

“The coaches have given us the tools and the strategies that are starting to show some success,” the scrumhalf added. “It’s always a work in progress, and we continued to work on them this week, but I think it’s finding that rhythm a lot earlier as a group and as a team that will put us over the top.”