USA Men's Eagles Face Eddie Jones & Japan in Pacific Nations Cup Showcase

Hosts Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick break down the USA Men’s Eagles roster as they prepare for a high-stakes test match against Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup. Facing a fast-paced Japanese side coached by Eddie Jones, the panel examines the challenges ahead following last year’s 47-21 defeat in Sacramento. The episode sets up the key focal points for Scott Lawrence’s squad, including the battle upfront, midfield stability, and dynamic options across the backline. The hosts walk through the 23-man squad, highlighting Chicago Hounds continuity in the halfbacks, veteran bench leadership from Sam Golla, and exciting young talent like Noah Brown and Julian Roberts. They also discuss missing overseas key figures like AJ MacGinty, depth across the back row, and setting target performance standards as the Eagles continue building toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup **Timestamps:** - 00:00 - Introduction & International Rugby Weekend Preview - 01:54 - Recapping Last Year’s Loss & The Eddie Jones Factor - 03:57 - Eagles Backline & Chicago Hounds Continuity - 05:09 - Reserve Backs & Bench Impact - 07:16 - Missing Internationals & Overseas Player Availability - 12:05 - Forward Pack, Scrum Battle, and Breakdown Discipline - 18:42 - Performance Goals: Targets & Raising the Floor **Links & Resources:** - Official USA Eagles Website: https://eagles.rugby - Support US Rugby Happy Hour / American Rugby Rising: https://www.americanrugbyrising.com —————————————— **Connect with US Rugby Happy Hour:** - Twitter: https://x.com/AmerRugbyRising - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanrugbyrising/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRugbyRising/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@americanrugbyrising - Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@americanrugbyrising - BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/americanrugbyrisin.bsky.social - LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3OjEHf8 🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of US Rugby Happy Hour on Youtube and your favorite podcast player today! iHeart: bit.ly/3A43Tff Apple: bit.ly/3Uuj9u7 Spotify: bit.ly/3ZxjAa0 Youtube: https://youtu.be/zo3gvigOpUs Like, follow, and subscribe and please leave a comment!! Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more! Hosts, Bill Baker and John Fitzpatrick are available for media opportunities and appearances. Contact information below. **Bill Baker,** an Emmy award winning editor and producer, has curated Eagles Overseas Rugby since 1996, providing updates and news stories about USA Eagles plying their trade around the world.  http://www.americanrugbyrising.com⁠ [⁠eaglesoverseas@comcast.net⁠](mailto:eaglesoverseas@comcast.net) **John Fitzpatrick** is the brain behind Rugby Morning, serving rugby news everyday via email newsletters to rugby fans around the world. [johndaniel.fitzpatrick@gmail.com](mailto:johndaniel.fitzpatrick@gmail.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices