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Alev Kelter placed a perfect 10-meter kickoff, and as the USA retained possession, the notion that the Eagles would need to play perfect ball settled in. No game is perfect, of course, and the 12-7 Cup semifinal decision to New Zealand could have gone either way.
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“New Zealand, they’re a good team, and the top four teams they’re always hard to beat,” USA’s Joanne Fa’avesi said. “I think we had a great game. You can’t turn off one bit and New Zealand didn’t do that.”
“They’re really good girls … but when you’re get on the field with them, they’re gonna bring it,” New Zealand’s Portia Woodman said. “It shows a lot because they show their respect and we try to show the respect back to them. They’re such a good side. They beat us in the semis in Sydney. We just had to bring it this time around.”
The USA took a 7-0 lead after about two-and-a-half minutes of play. A New Zealand penalty worked to the sideline, and a ferocious breakdown fight ensued. It was a mark of play all game, and any ball that went to ground was up for grabs.
“We know teams step up against the black jersey and they’re going to bring it. And we like that,” Woodman said of the breakdown fight. “We want teams to bring that because it challenges us even more, so it’s perfect.”
On this occasion, the USA was able to steal possession, and Nicole Heavirland fed Kristen Thomas on the short side for a push-off try. Heavirland hit the conversion for the 7-0 lead.
Woodman took advantage of an overlap and pulled away for what looked like a sure try, until Kelter planted a great cover tackle to save the score. New Zealand held onto possession in favorable territory, and Fa’avesi nearly relieved pressure with a poach. She was great all game, offloading out of contact and punishing indecision in the midfield. She seems to flourish the more physical a game gets.
“Yes, I love that kind of [physical game],” Fa’avesi confessed. “Being a 15s player coming to 7s, I like that. I actually like that the field is not as wide because then we can create that space on our own.”
But it was New Zealand who took advantage of some room out wide, as Michaela Blyde took on Naya Tapper one-on-one and won the stepping contest, 7-5 to USA.
New Zealand nearly got a second try as Tyla Nathan-Wong grubbered into the corner and with Blyde on the chase, but the grounding was just missed.
The second-half kickoff was knocked into touch by the USA, but the New Zealand throw-in was tipped and sailed over the top to Fa’avesi. She spun that ball out quickly and Kelter looked to pull away, but it turned out there was a slight knock-on. From the New Zealand scrum inside the USA 22, Niall Williams dummied past the defense for the centered score, which Nathan Wong converted, 12-7.
There were still five minutes remaining, and the USA had its chances. The most exciting series occurred after a big Fa’avesi hit caused a knock-on, and Kelter followed with a nice cut back against her defender. Tapper advanced up the sideline to the New Zealand 40 and drew a penalty. Some nice offloads in tight followed, but the team did miss an opportunity to take advantage of an overload.
As the time ticked off the clock, and play remained in New Zealand’s half, the crowd erupted into “USA” chants. The crowd was significantly larger than Friday and this morning, due in part to the overlap with Las Vegas Invitational. The USA didn’t win but the crowd was treated to a wonderfully contested match.
New Zealand moves onto the final against Australia, and the USA will face Canada in the third-place match.
“No doubt,” Woodman confirmed that the Sydney semifinal loss to the USA was on the team’s mind. “Because it was pretty much a repeat of Sydney – us against the U.S. in the semis. Australia and Canada against each other in their semi. We just knew we had to bring it. They’ve got their home crowd, right, and it’s hard to beat a home team. I’m really proud of the girls.”
“We need to bring that same intensity that we brought against New Zealand,” Fa’avesi looked ahead to Canada. “We can’t turn off. We’ve got a bronze medal to win.”
USA 7
Tries: Thomas
Cons: Heavirland
New Zealand 12
Tries: Williams, Blyde
Cons: Nathan Wong