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TOKYO: USA captain Jason Damm believes in a 16-19 loss to his rivals Canada will provide plenty of “fuel for your fire” for the Eagles, who finished fourth at the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 in Japan.
The Eagles passed the July tests in a brand new Nations Rugby World Cup with an undefeated 3-0 record, beating the other teams who also qualified for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, which starts in less than 13 months.
An Eagles-heavy USA XV later claimed a one-point win against an Argentina XV at the Inter Miami FC stadium, before the test team assembled. The USA was defeated by the eventual champions Japan in the semifinals last weekend, and were defeated again in the third-place playoff.
There are 10 spots between the sides in the World Rugby rankings, and No. 24 Canada raced to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. The USA battled back and Luke Carty’s accurate dig proved important, but the Canadians held on.
Canadian veterans Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage spoke with them RugbyPass after the match, both delighted after a tough fight. But for the USA, the quest for further improvement continues ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
“It hurts, man, it hurts. If you need fuel for your fire, it gives you plenty,” Damm said RugbyPass.
“Personally, it’s just going to make me get better and get better and push myself.
“We have a few more weeks together, kind of like the Falcons tour – some guys go, some stay and train some more, and then we go off on our own for a bit.
“We just have to keep trying and keep getting better because we know we have a ways to go.”
LeSage opened the game with a moment of individual brilliance in the ninth minute, with the Red Head inside center racing past defenders to score the first try of the contest, converted by Takoda McMullin.
Mason Flesch – who was later named man of the match – headed in a corner kick to add five more to Canada’s lead six minutes later. But the USA began to fight back, with loose prop Faka’osi Pifeleti crashing over and Carty adding five more on the stroke of half time.
It rained for at least two hours before the game, which added to the drama and theatrics of the spectacle. Canada outscored the USA seven points to six in the second term, but it was their defense that proved the difference in the final Test game.
“I think the conditions actually played into our hands; the shooting game we wanted to play, the loose ball, the naughty stuff. We’ll never use that as an excuse, it was more just role playing,” Damm said.
“Discipline in the first half was poor, in the middle third we gave them easy entries into the 22. We defended well, but when you give a team probably six entries in the first half, you’re going to have a couple.
“In the second half, it just came down to executing roles. In clinical moments, just missing roles, not executing what we needed to. In the end, just keep Canada in the game.”