Both Samoa and the USA will be competing in the 5th place playoff in Denver on Sunday, 14th September, but more importantly is that the winner will directly qualify for the Australia Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Both Samoa and the USA will be competing in the 5th place playoff in Denver on Sunday, 14th September, but more importantly is that the winner will directly qualify for the Australia Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Dicks Sporting Goods Park will be the venue for their main goal, with qualification on the line, and Samoa will be the favourites as they have beaten the hosts in six of the past eight encounters, which include both games played in the USA. The USA are also on their worst-ever streak in the tournament (five straight losses),
Both teams have been below par and have the two worst lineout success rates in the PNC, but the Samoans' physicality has been a trademark as they have made the most dominant carries.
Samoa will want to maintain their run of featuring in every tournament since 1991, while the USA failed to qualify for France 2023 and already has plenty of problems in their domestic MLR to contend with.
Individually, Samoa’s Iakopo Petelo-Mapu has made the most carries (28) of any player at the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup. He is the only player to record 100+ post-contact metres (104) or 50+ in-contact metres (93). Benjamin Nee-Nee has been an absolute menace at the breakdowns for the Samoans.
Michael Alaalatoa again captains the Pacific islanders, but they are without Taleni Sua, who misses the vital game following his red card in last week’s Fiji match.
For the USA Eagles, Christian Poidevin has been their real threat at the rucks, and is their leading at the defensive breakdown arrivals and steals. He is just ahead of Jason Damm in those stats.
Samoa can replace Japan in 13th if they win their fifth-place play-off with the USA and if the Brave Blossoms are beaten by Tonga, providing that one of the winning margins is more than 15 points.
If the USA lose, not only do they make their RWC 2027 qualification more difficult, they could fall to their joint-lowest ranking they last held in 2008.
USA Eagles Head Coach Scott Lawrence said, "We’re focused on doing the right kind of work, with the right energy and intensity needed to prepare for these tests. We want to see speed to the breakdown and strength over the ball this week, preparing for the breakdown pressure we’re sure to see coming."
They are currently 19th and would drop one place to 20th if they lose the fifth-place play-off with Samoa by more than 15 points. If the Men’s Eagles are victorious, they could rise to 17th ahead of RWC 2027-qualified Portugal and Uruguay. If Tonga loses and the USA wins, then the Eagles could rise as high as 16th.
USA Captain Jason Damm added, "We're making sure to keep consistent with our actions, and keep consistent with our game plan. We're not letting the moment get to us, we're staying together as a team and rising to the occasion, whatever comes our way."
Maliu Niuafe has been selected to make his debut from the bench.
Damián Schneider (Argentina) will referee this fixture.
