Photos: Mike Lee / KLC fotos for World Rugby
The USA defeated South Africa and lost to France and New Zealand on day one of the Dubai 7s, the first stop on the 2017-18 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. The Eagles advance to the Cup quarterfinals as the “2nd Best 3rd Place” team to face top seed New Zealand at 9 a.m. local Friday (12 a.m. EST Friday / 9 p.m. PST Thursday).
The day spanned the spectrum of hope as the Eagle squad, which included four non-contracted players, kicked off a new series. Opening against France, the USA launched into the air as Jordan Gray batted down the opening kickoff back in her team’s hands, and a fast, crisp attack sliced into French territory. Less than a minute gone, Alev Kelter darted down the weak side of the ruck for the converted try.
The buzz then shifted to France, which capitalized on a missed defensive assignment on the restart to build its own phases down the middle of the pitch. After a few wily carries, Fanny Horta took the pass out wide for the try, which Pauline Biscarat converted, 7-all.
Les Bleus then ramped up the pressure in the breakdown, slowing down the USA attack and able to steal possession. Missed tackles also hurt the Eagles. A turnover in the Eagles’ end moved quickly to Shannon Izar for the sideline try and 12-7 lead into the break.
France continued to disrupt the tackle area in the second half but a couple of handling errors and/or penalties kept the ball in the USA’s hands. What looked like a squandered opportunity – a pass-kick directly to a French player – turned into a massive Gray hit and turnover. The ball moved to Abby Gustaitis, who nearly crossed for a score, but found Ryan Carlyle for the offload and try, 12-all.
France answered immediately as Montserrat Amedee stepped her opposite from the restart and connected with reserve Coralie Bertrand for the try, which Izar converted. There was a minute remaining, and Sara Parsons took the restart well and drew a penalty. The ball moved to Naya Tapper on the wing, she shooed her defender away and ran in the try. Nicole Heavirland’s conversion sailed just wide for the 19-17 final.
The USA chased South Africa on the scoreboard for the majority of the game, but a last-play try from Naya Tapper afforded a dramatic 19-15 victory.
Christelene Steinhoebel pushed off her opposite for a long break that Tapper tracked down, but the ball kept moving forward and found Zintle Mpupha for the first of her two first-half tries. The Eagles’ points began with a big hit from Kelter. The ball jarred loose and Heavirland was there to pick it up in South Africa’s end. The ball struggled to move away from contact, but Gray did well to create a little separation and hit Tapper for the try, which Heavirland converted, 10-7 to South Africa into the break.
Heavirland, the 22-year-old captain, set up the first score of the second half, stepping out of tackles before offloading to Gustaitis on the sideline for the try, 12-10.
South Africa was up for the chase and sent a booming kick to the USA’s tryline. Heavirland recovered nicely but then a knock-on settled play inside the Eagles’ 10 meter. South Africa was reined into touch on the subsequent two opportunities, but then the USA handed over five points with an errant lineout that trickled into its try zone. Grain Veroeshka simply had to touch it down for the 15-12 lead.
The team’s handling and passing accuracy had struggled under pressure, but with 30 seconds left on the clock, the USA came through. The Eagles held onto possession and after a couple of phases moved the ball to Tapper on the wing. She got around her opposite for a 60-meter try, which Heavirland converted, 19-15.
New Zealand dominated the teams’ final pool play game, winning 45-14. The game started with Tyla Nathan-Wong spying an empty back field and kicking into space for Michaela Blyde, 7s Player of the Year, to chase down and score. Portia Woodman followed shortly afterward, leaning on her world renowned sidestep for a pull-away try.
Tapper put the USA on the board, making good on a volleyball-like pass from Kelter to avoid a fast-rushing defense. Blyde went too high in the attempted tackle, Tapper pushed off and had the gas to finish. Kelter added a nice conversion, 14-7.
But that’s the closest the USA would come to New Zealand, which ended the half with tries from Ruby Tui and Sarah Goss. Woodman, Kayla McAlister and Gayle Broughton added second-half scores, and USA captain Heavirland dotted down the Eagles’ second try, converted by Kelter.
The Eagles advance to the Cup quarterfinals as the eighth team and thus play the first-place team, New Zealand, in the knockouts. It’s a quick turnaround – kickoff is at 9 a.m. local (12 a.m. Eastern Friday / 9 p.m. Pacific Thursday).