Photo: Mike Lee / KLC fotos for World Rugby
The Dubai 7s Cup quarterfinals began with a rematch of the final game from day one: New Zealand vs. USA. The Black Ferns had defeated the Eagles by 31 points in pool play and entered the knockouts as the #1 seed. The Americans had edged Ireland for the final seed to the Cup quarterfinals, but turned that slim margin into a massive 14-12 win over New Zealand and berth to the Cup semifinals.
USA Women’s 7s head coach Richie Walker rotated Sara Parsons and Tia Blythe into the starting lineup, and this group kept the majority of the first half in New Zealand’s end. That continued pressure, despite a turnover or two, eventually put wing Naya Tapper away for her sixth try of the tournament. Alev Kelter converted for a 7-0 lead after four minutes.
New Zealand stayed true to its kicking game and almost connected with Portia Woodman on the sideline. Instead, the USA convened for a lineout near midfield. The set piece came off without a hitch but Parsons was pinged for not-releasing, and the Black Ferns regrouped. Gayle Broughton stepped past the middle defense and pulled away for the try, converted by Tyla Nathan-Wong, 7-all into the break.
New Zealand sent another kick deep into USA territory, and Heavirland was calm in the chase, return and movement of the ball, even as Woodman barreled down on the captain. But the Kiwi defense swarmed the eventual tackle and turned it over. The attack then built to a point where Woodman had space on the sideline for the score, 12-7.
Even though New Zealand – which is the only team other than Australia to win Dubai 7s since it joined the Women’s Sevens Series – was now in the lead, the team wasn’t playing with the chemistry that had been on display the day prior. Some of that disconnect had to do with the USA’s hard-rushing defense, forcing some passes to ground. The Eagles also got a nice boost from its bench.
New Zealand worked the clock, and the game idled around a scrum in the then-leader’s end. Thirty-three seconds remained when play resumed. The ball moved to Kayla McAlister who used a mini-break to put Michaela Blyde down the sideline. The World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year booted it down field and raced alongside Kelter. A knock-on resulted with three second on the clock, so the USA had one more scrum in its own end.
Scrumhalf Heavirland darted around the weak side and support arrived just in time to secure the ball. The ball moved away, and the defense was well focused on Tapper out wide, so the ball worked back to the middle. The Eagles earned a penalty and reserve Jordan Gray went quickly, offloading to Abby Gustaitis out of contact. After a few more meters gained, reserve Kelsi Stockert picked from the base of the ruck and tore away into unguarded territory. There was no sweeper and no pursuit fast enough to catch Stockert for the centered, tying try. Kelter hit the conversion for the 14-12 win.
The USA had everything to gain in today’s rematch against New Zealand, and the team took the win and more. The Eagles will now face Russia in the Cup semifinals at 4:28 a.m. Eastern.