Scott Lawrence has named the USA Men’s Eagles side to face Canada in Saturday’s Pacific Nations Cup third-place playoff in Tokyo, with Cassh Maluia’s Test debut among several changes following the semifinal loss to Japan.
The USA Men’s Eagles will close their 2026 Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Canada on Saturday at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, with head coach Scott Lawrence reshuffling his side following last weekend’s 63–14 defeat to Japan.
Cassh Maluia will make his international debut at inside center, Luke Carty takes over at flyhalf, Julian Roberts returns to the starting back three and Lance Williams gets the start at openside flanker.
The Eagles enter the third-place playoff looking for a response after Japan scored nine tries in their semifinal victory in Osaka.
Lawrence reshuffles the Eagles
The changes extend across both the forwards and backs.
Fakaosifolau Pifeleti comes into the front row at loosehead, joining hooker Shilo Klein and tighthead Tonga Kofe.
Captain Jason Damm and Nathan Den Hoedt remain together in the second row.
The back row has Marno Redelinghuys at blindside, Williams at openside and Makeen Alikhan at No. 8.
World Rugby’s official match notes confirm Pifeleti and Williams coming into the pack for Canada.
There is more movement behind the scrum.
Ruben de Haas retains the No. 9 jersey, but Carty moves into the starting side at flyhalf in place of Chris Hilsenbeck, who is named among the replacements.
Noah Brown remains on the left wing, Roberts starts on the right and Mitch Wilson continues at fullback.
The new midfield combination has Maluia at inside center alongside Dominic Besag, with Tavite Lopeti moving to the bench.
Maluia gets his first Test opportunity
Maluia’s selection at No. 12 brings a new face into the Eagles midfield and adds an unusual NFL-to-international-rugby story to Saturday’s team.
The former University of Wyoming linebacker was selected by the New England Patriots with the 204th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and appeared in eight games as a reserve for New England during the 2020 season. The Patriots’ own records confirm both his draft position and eight NFL appearances.
After his American football career, Maluia transitioned to rugby, eventually reaching the USA national-team setup.
He will make his first international appearance alongside Besag in Tokyo and is the only uncapped player in the Eagles’ match-day 23.
Eagles look for a response after Japan
Saturday gives the USA an immediate opportunity to respond to its heaviest defeat of 2026.
Japan beat the Eagles 63–14 in Osaka, scoring nine tries and keeping the USA scoreless throughout the second half.
Shilo Klein and Tavite Lopeti scored the Eagles’ two first-half tries, with Chris Hilsenbeck converting both.
The lineout was one area where the Eagles struggled. The USA won only 64% of its 14 throws, well below the 93.7% average World Rugby recorded for the Eagles during their earlier Nations Cup matches.
World Rugby notes that the result was the USA’s heaviest defeat since an 85–0 loss to Scotland in November 2025.
Lawrence has not responded by completely rebuilding the team.
Damm, Den Hoedt, de Haas, Brown, Besag and Wilson are among those retained in the starting lineup, while Lopeti moves to the replacements.
Mason Pedersen also returns to the match-day squad and provides front-row cover from the bench.
USA and Canada meet again
The third-place playoff renews one of North American rugby’s longest-running international rivalries.
The USA and Canada have played 67 previous Tests, with Canada leading the all-time series 40–25 with two draws.
The more recent history favors the Eagles.
Canada has won only two of the last 16 meetings between the teams.
One of those victories, however, came in the most recent meeting.
Canada defeated the USA 34–20 in Calgary in August 2025. The teams were tied 17–17 at halftime before Canada took control of the scoreboard after the break. Besag scored one of the USA tries.
Saturday will also be the first USA–Canada Test played on neutral soil since Canada won 52–10 at Twickenham in the 2007 Churchill Cup.
Canada has also made changes for the third-place playoff. Foster DeWitt starts at hooker, Jesse Kilgour returns at scrumhalf, and Ethan Fryer comes into the starting side, while captain Lucas Rumball is set to earn his 70th Test cap.
Rankings implications in Tokyo
The Eagles enter the match ranked No. 14 in the world with 69.50 rating points, compared with Canada at No. 24 and 60.37.
The USA cannot climb above 14th with a victory.
A Canadian win would have a larger effect. World Rugby says the USA would fall below Portugal with a defeat, while a loss by more than 15 points could drop the Eagles three places to No. 17.
Canada will climb at least two positions with a victory and could move another place with a win by more than 15 points.
By the Numbers
USA Eagles lineup vs Canada
How to watch USA vs Canada
Match: USA vs Canada
Competition: Pacific Nations Cup — Third-Place Playoff
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Kickoff: 3:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 a.m. CT / 1:00 a.m. MT / 12:00 a.m. PT
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
U.S. streaming: Paramount+
World Rugby confirms the match as the Pacific Nations Cup third-place playoff at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium with a 4:00 p.m. local kickoff in Tokyo.
