USA captain explains key behind unbeaten 3-0 start to Nations Cup

USA captain Jason Damm has hailed the self-belief and composure of the team after a hard-earned 29-22 win over Spain, which improved their record in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup to a perfect 3-0.

Chris Hilsenbck was the hero for the Men’s Eagles in a thriller against Portugal a fortnight ago, as the hosts snuck home for a one-point win in Denver. The USA followed that up with a clinical performance against Zimbabwe in North Carolina.

But it didn’t get any easier for the USA, who rounded out the July international window against another side bound for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. It was an absolute thriller at First Horizon Stadium, with Spain taking the lead with about 20 to play.

But now three-Test winger Perry Mayo and replacement fly-half Luke Carty made game-changing plays during the final quarter. Carty had been among the standouts in the triumph over Zimbabwe, and the playmaker again delivered when it mattered most.

Carty slotted two late shots at goal, extending the home side’s advantage to seven with less than 10 left on the clock. The USA had 60 per cent possession throughout the 80-minute battle but were made to work for every single metre and point.

“It’s just about being confident in the plan and really all-out belief in each other and what we’re out here trying to do,” Damm said on the broadcast, which you can watch on RugbyPass TV HERE.

“We’ve been under pressure these three games. Spain put us under a heap of pressure, flipped the score on us late in the game but we just had belief in the plan and knew we’re going to come out on top.”

New England Free Jacks fullback Mitch Wilson touched down for the opening points 10 minutes into the match, before Spain hit back. But the Eagles still took a lead into the sheds after Paddy Ryan and Julian Roberts.

It was a seven point ballgame at the break, and Spain certainly made it tough for the Eagles in front of their home fans. Martiniano Cian crossed for a try, before a Gonzalo Lopez Bontempo penalty goal saw the visitors take the lead.

But the Eagles didn’t seem to panic, with the impact of the bench providing a talking point after a Nations Cup thriller. Mayo scored next before Carty’s accurate goal-kicking boot left the hosts in a strong position.

“We know our kicking game is going to put teams under pressure in attack and if we get up and made sur our line is stout, make them give us the ball back, we know we can flip that pressure right back on them,” Damm explained.

“Our bench impact has ben unreal in the way that they come in and throw their bodies around, definitely generates these wins.”

Damm shifted from the second row to the loose forwards for this Test, lining up at No. 8 in an All-Star backrow. Cory Daniel was coming off two tries in as many matches, while Ryan is always reliable at openside.

Ryan touched down for a try and finished with an equal game-high nine carries. Damm was another top performer for the Eagles, with the skipper finishing with the equal most tackles of any American player.

“It’s good when I can put the eight back on my back. It’s like riding a bike now that I’m at lock most of the time,”  he reflected.

“Credit to those guys, they’re absolute work horses and just keep pushing me.”