Thomas en route to her try /// Photo: Dave Stephenson, Numina Photos
The USA Women’s 7s team defeated Ireland 20-12 to advance to the Vegas 7s Cup semifinals, and enjoyed some redemption against the team that beat the Eagles by three points in pool play.
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“Most definitely,” USA hooker Kristen Thomas affirmed the desire for redemption against Ireland. “That last loss on day one to them was really tough for us, but we knew it was payback today.
“We already played them so we knew their game plan,” Thomas said of Ireland-specific preparation. “So for us we were going to try and get it wide on them and then just take it to them.”
And that’s exactly how the first try evolved. The first two minutes stayed in Ireland’s end, though both sides enjoyed possession. Ireland was pressing on defense and nearly intercepted a dribbling pass to Thomas, who not only gathered the ball expertly but also committed two defenders close to the sideline.
“She was calling for it the entire time and talking to me, so I knew that she was open out there,” Thomas prefaced Naya Tapper’s first try of the match. “And so once we got the two defenders [to] suck in on me, I knew I just had to get it to her and she would finish for us.”
And true to form, Tapper powered through the defense into the try zone. She’d repeat the feat in the second half, this time going more than 50 meters and through defenders who had her perfectly lined up for the tackle.
But first, the USA took a 10-0 lead after running a couple of penetrating runs along the sideline. Ireland committed a penalty too close to its try line, and Ryan Carlyle quick-tapped for the barreling dive-over try.
Three USA penalties saw Ireland sustain an attack to the Eagles’ try line as the half neared its end. Alev Kelter and Tapper double-tackled Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, and Stacey Flood circled around for a corner try, 10-5 into the break.
The USA stole an Ireland ruck near mid-field early in the second half, and the ball moved to the opposite end. Joanne Fa’avesi sent a fantastic offload out of the tackle to Kelter running on. Ireland coughed up a penalty, and the tap went to Thomas. She took a couple of steps forward and then made a decision.
“It’s just how my mind works, to see one-on-ones, so I didn’t pre-plan it or anything,” Thomas said as she burst toward her defender. “I had planned on passing it but then I saw it open up and went for it.”
Thomas simply bust through the tackle and then legged out the team’s third try, and Tapper followed with a fourth, making those sideline breaks look oh-so easy.
Thomas and Tapper worked well off each other this match, and the former is getting comfortable in her role as lineout jumper and hooker – a new role for her.
“I love it,” Thomas said of being in the forwards. “It’s nice to be able to switch back and forth [with wing]. It’s a change of fields, I guess, similar position on the outside, but it’s nice to switch it up and jump in the lineout and do the scrums.”
Ireland added a final try through Megan Williams, and Lucy Mulhall added the conversion for the 20-12 final.
The USA will now play New Zealand in the Cup semifinals at 12:56 p.m.
USA 20
Tries: Tapper 2, Carlyle, Thomas
Ireland 12
Tries: Flood, Williams
Cons: Mulhall