The USA Women’s 7s team is out of medal contention this 2020 Tokyo Olympics after dropping its quarterfinal 21-12 to Great Britain. The Eagles will now play China in the 5th place semifinals at 9:30 p.m. ET Friday.
“Absolutely devastating,” USA 7s co-captain Abby Gustaitis said. “It’s sport, right? It brings you the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Unfortunately, we’re on that low end of it today and credit to Great Britain where it’s due. They came out swinging, they didn’t miss a beat and we made a few errors. We just weren’t able to clear way back, not for lack of effort or belief in the girls.”
The USA and Great Britain had seen each other very recently, playing several matches during the Quest for Gold 7s in Los Angeles in late June. The Eagles won that series, but it obviously aided the Olympics-only squad as well. Great Britain’s defense was the star. As the team put up points and the USA attempted to rally through meters gained, Great Britain just pressed the Americans into retreat and didn’t let up. The team attacked quickly, especially off penalties, and worked really hard throughout.
Thirty-eight seconds after kickoff, Wales’ Jasmine Joyce was in the try zone and Holly Aitchison kicked the first of three conversions. From the restart, the Great Britain defense pushed the USA back to its five meter, and Naya Tapper was pulled down two meters from the try line. An aggressive contest for the ball produced a not-releasing penalty, and the ball moved to Abbie Brown, who spun out of contact for the second try: 14-0 after two-and-a-half minutes.
The restart was mishandled into touch and Great Britain moved its lineout ball to the 22 until a penalty. Even though possession had changed, Great Britain kept pressuring with its defense to move the game inside the USA 10. The half ended with a knock-on at the scrum, and the Americans attempting to relieve some pressure.
The Eagles rallied back from a two-try deficit in its previous match against Australia, but that was when a trip to the quarterfinals was already guaranteed. Abby Gustaitis tapped back the second-half kickoff and the Eagles tried to get out of its 22. Ilona Maher shot forward but slow support produced a not-releasing penalty. Great Britain quick-tapped and shot the ball to Joyce out wide. She cut back inside Kristi Kirshe sliding across for the try: 21-0.
There was still plenty of game left, but the remainder of the match had to go in the Americans’ favor if there was going to be a change in victor. The USA did well with the next possession, connecting runs between Kirshe, Naya Tapper, Alev Kelter and Gustaitis. Play moved steadily to Great Britain’s 22, and Cheta Emba nearly scored through a quick-tap penalty at the 5 meter. The ball was called back, Gustaitis took the first stab at the line, and then the recycle went to Kirshe for the try: 21-5.
The missed conversion meant that the Eagles needed three tries in two minutes, and that wasn’t going to happen, especially as Great Britain held onto the uncontested restart. A knock-on handed possession to the USA with a minute remaining, and Kirshe and Tapper got the game to the 22. Everyone got their hands on the ball, and the finishing pass to Tapper produced a centered try that Heavirland converted: 21-12 the final.
That’s it for the USA and medal hopes, but Great Britain deserved the win and pushed the pace of the match throughout. The Eagles still have two more games to play, however, and 5th place is the goal.