Lawrence targets 10-per-cent gains as USA Eagles face Canada in Pacific Nations Cup playoff

USA head coach Scott Lawrence has outlined a measured but urgent path forward for the Eagles, who face Canada in the Pacific Nations Cup third-place playoff in Tokyo this weekend — less than 13 months out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Lawrence’s side suffered a heavy defeat to tournament hosts Japan in Osaka last weekend, ending their hopes of reaching the 2026 final. But the coach insists the squad regrouped quickly, with each player leaving Monday’s review session knowing exactly where they need to improve.

“We’re always looking for 10 per cent better than where we were the week before,” Lawrence said. “We had real clarity coming out of Monday, at an individual and a collection level, as to where we were going to target those 10 per cent betters. They’re not always statistical in nature, it’s just things we want to be better at.”

Lawrence described the Eagles’ approach as being “impatiently patient” — committed to a week-by-week process while keeping a firm eye on the bigger picture. He added that the squad has also identified specific positional targets they want to hit by the end of November.

The clash with Canada carries extra weight given recent history. Canada claimed a 34-20 victory in Calgary in August 2025, with Tyler Ardron scoring four tries, and the two sides have split their last four meetings evenly. Over a longer stretch, however, the USA have dominated — winning 13 of the last 16 Tests between the nations dating back to June 2024.

Eagles captain Damm acknowledged the emotional charge the fixture carries, particularly after the disappointment against Japan, but stressed the importance of controlling the team’s mindset from the first whistle.

“One of the biggest things we can control is our mindset as we go into this game,” Damm said. “I think that’s what let us down a bit when we reflect on that Canada game last year — we just let them get over us a little too soon. For me, it’s just coming out, setting the tone and throwing our bodies around early and letting them know we’re here.”

The Eagles arrive in Tokyo having already beaten three Rugby World Cup-qualified nations this season, and with an Eagles-heavy USA XV having edged Argentina XV 25-24 in a non-Test at Inter Miami FC Stadium last month. With the 2027 World Cup — the USA’s first appearance since 2019 — on the horizon, Lawrence’s squad is using every available fixture to sharpen depth and embed the systems they will need on the biggest stage.