Do the USA Eagles Have a Plan B? | USA vs Canada PNC Breakdown

On this episode of the A&D Podcast, Austin and Dietrich are once again in a somber mood as they break down the USA Eagles’ Pacific Nations Cup bronze medal matchup against Canada in Tokyo.After the embarrassing performance against Japan, the USA needed a response—but did they actually find one?Canada struck twice in the opening 15 minutes, both tries coming directly from lineout situations, while the USA struggled to build any sustained attacking rhythm. There were flashes of cohesion, but the Eagles repeatedly failed to maintain momentum, struggled with support lines, and allowed Canada to generate multiple jackal opportunities.The guys also dive into some of the individual performances and tactical questions from the match. Maluia’s raw athleticism was on display, but his lack of rugby experience raised questions about how predictable his attacking game can become. Meanwhile, Ben Benasso put together a standout defensive performance, including two blocked kicks, and the Eagles showed flashes of what their attack can look like when everything clicks.And then came the 78th minute.A bold sequence involving Noah Brown, Du Has, Carty, Besag, Roberts, Lopeti, Alikaan, and Benasso nearly produced one of the most exciting tries of the match. From winning the territory battle off a Canada lineout to the kick chase and Benasso’s chip over the defensive line, the USA came agonizingly close to executing the kind of creative rugby the Eagles need to produce more consistently.But that raises the bigger question:Is the USA’s system actually the problem—or is the lack of depth and adaptability the real issue?When the Eagles have their top players available, the system can work beautifully. But when injuries, club commitments, or player availability force the USA to rely on less experienced options, the attack can become predictable, and the team seems to struggle to find another way to win.Can Scott Lawrence learn from this Pacific Nations Cup campaign as he did after the infamous 83-0 loss to Scotland? Is the USA developing enough depth to survive without its best players? And does this Eagles team actually have a Plan B?Austin and Dietrich break down USA vs. Canada, the Pacific Nations Cup, squad depth, attacking structure, lineouts, defense, player development, Scott Lawrence, and what the USA Eagles need to fix before the 2027 Rugby World Cup.What do you think?Is this a coaching/system problem, a player-depth problem, or both? And if the USA’s best players aren't available, can this team actually adapt—or are the Eagles too dependent on Plan A?Let us know what you think and debate it with us in the comments.Follow the A&D Podcast for more USA Eagles, USA Rugby, Pacific Nations Cup, MLR, and American rugby coverage.TikTok: @ad.podcastInstagram: @ad.podcast0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.