The USA Women’s 7s team won its 5th place semifinal 33-14 against China and will play its final match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics against Australia at 4 a.m. ET Saturday. The Eagles rallied from a two-try deficit to beat Australia 14-12 during pool play.
The USA got on the nine seconds into the match, as the opening kickoff sailed over China’s grip, and co-captain Kris Thomas was running on for the gather. She finished her 50-meter sprint in the try zone, while Nicole Heavirland kicked the first of four conversions: 7-0.
Cheta Emba kept the restart but then back-to-back penalties put and kept the ball in China’s possession. China always looked to attack quickly through the mark, and the lines and pace at which the team attacked open space were intimidating. Wanyu Wang beat Naya Tapper out wide for the try and Keyi Chen kicked the extras, 7-7.
The Eagles responded quickly to restore the point differential, and it was Thomas once again with the five-point honors. The USA was backed up on its five meter and a near-errant pass could have been trouble. But Thomas reigned in the pass, stepped her opposite and cut past the sweeper for a 95-meter try: 14-7.
China came very close to evening up the try count, as a kick ahead and solid chase-down saw China dotting down in the try zone. The review, however, showed a slight knock-on in the tap-down, so play restarted with a five-meter scrum to the USA. The Eagles did well to build out of its own end, and then a red card for a high tackle gave the USA the advantage. Lauren Doyle sent a flat pass to Jordan Matyas angling through the line, and she carried to inside the 22. The ball moved to Tapper, who lost control of the ball in the fend, but quickly recovered and weaved through the defense for the try: 21-7 into the break.
The second half saw China attacking confidently into the USA’s end, and then play suspended while two injuries were attended to. Ariana Ramsey was helped off the pitch, limping. When the game resumed, China continued to push a kicking agenda, and the second attempt paid off. Chen kicked through the line and into unguarded territory, going 35 meters for the gather and try. She converted her own score for the 21-14 scoreline.
Ilona Maher then scored back-to-back tries to put the game out of reach. The first came after Matyas moved the ball to space, and Maher planted a massive fend on Chen for the long-range try. That killer fend came in handy against Xiaoming Yu, who was standing in the way of Maher’s second try. Heavirland closed out the match with the extras: 33-14.