The USA finished a strong performance at Paris 7s with a 28-7 win over Fiji for fifth place. The Eagles went 4-2 in France and finished fifth overall on the 2017-18 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. Next up: Rugby World Cup Sevens, July 20-22, in San Francisco.
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Approximately three minutes after kickoff, the ball moved wide to Kristen Thomas, and the wing evaded three defenders en route to the long-range try that Nicole Heavirland converted.
After an exchange of penalties, the USA looked to rebuild from a lineout on its 40 meter. Nice work of the sidelines saw space open up in the middle, and Ryan Carlyle happily attacked it. The ball worked to Thomas on the wing, but Pricilla Sauvavi Siata just got a hand on to push play into touch inside Fiji’s 10 meter. A pass hit the ground and the USA defense shot up for the steal, but an offsides penalty allowed Fiji to send it wide and work an overload. Siata made good work of the 2-on-1 on the sideline for the converted try, 7-all into the break.
During the halftime chat, USA 7s coach Richie Walker praised the width of the attack and the opportunities it created in the middle of the pitch. The coach had mostly good things to say about the defense and its ability to force Fiji into contact but wanted better connection on restarts and after turnovers.
USA and Fiji exchanged knock-ons early in the second half, and play restarted with an Eagle scrum in Fiji’s end. Scrumhalf Heavirland tore down the short side to get the defense scrambling and connected with Cheta Emba for extra meters. The ball then raced to the opposite side of the pitch to Naya Tapper, who overpowered Timaima Ravisa for her 23rd try of the series. Alev Kelter hit another sideline conversion for the 14-7 lead.
Back-to-back penalties gave Fiji some momentum but the hands weren’t connecting and a knock-on provided the USA a scrum on its 40 meter. Some untidy play followed and Tapper did very well to secure the ball and halt a deeper retreat. With the defense swarming on Tapper, the ball moved wide to Lauren Doyle, and she stepped away from her pursuit for her sixth try of the tournament. Heavirland converted for the 21-7 lead.
There were 10 seconds on the game clock when the teams assembled for the final restart. Fiji linked together a couple of nice phases, and then the linebreak out wide looked like a try was in the making. But then the ball hit the ground, sub Ilona Maher scooped it up, and the 7s rookie returned it for 50-plus meters – again – for the game-ending try, 28-7 with the conversion.
Reflecting on the tournament as a whole and looking toward the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Eagles showed that they are contenders. The games that the USA lost – 14-5 to fourth-place France, 28-26 to third-place Canada – were great, winnable matches. The USA might not be favorites, but the crisp, confident squad that featured in Paris has the goods to do big things in July.