A week ago, the USA was bracing for the first leg of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Glendale, Colo., and then spent the weekend treating fans to a trophy-earning performance. The Eagles delivered, and the fans who made the trip to Infinity Park, they couldn’t have asked for a better showing in a more intimate venue.
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ON-PITCH GOODIES
The USA 7s team is at a place where a victory doesn’t rest on one person’s standout performance, and that’s a reassuring fact that hasn’t always been the case. With that said, Nicole Heavirland is key. She isn’t a co-captain this season but that hasn’t diminished her role as an example-setter. She is super fit and works really hard around the pitch to get in good support positions – as evidenced by two tries in the final against Australia; is disciplined with a low penalty count; and sews a complete team performance together.
Kristi Kirshe continues to be a disrupter, and she’s used so well. At the halftime break, teams regroup and talk about adjustments or continuations for the second half, and then Kirshe comes on to incite panic in their plans. Powerful and shifty, Kirshe seems to come out of nowhere. A ball that should be heading into contact somehow emerges out the back of the defense, and then it’s off to the try line. Kirshe and Cheta Emba, earned spots on the Glendale 7s Dream Team.
Deeper into the tournament, when better equipped teams have readied themselves for Naya Tapper on the wing, phase play saw her work into the middle field with great results. Tapper is known for her presence on the sideline and power in the counter-ruck, but it was good to see her take lines into the middle of the pitch and plow confidently through that defense to set up the go-forward.
The USA has so many aerialists! Emba pulled down that final restart against Canada and returned it for the game-winner, and Kasey McCravey plucked a restart out of the sky against Ireland and immediately linked with Heavirland for a try. There’s also co-captain Abby Gustaitis and Jordan Matyas, and when Kristen Thomas is healthy, she’s got ups, too. You see this height play out in other aspects of the game, from Matyas’ ability to get her hands through a group tackle (and often find Alev Kelter in support), to those extra crucial inches in dotting down a dive-over try.
Finally, we’re bubbling over with excitement for Eti Haungatau. The 18-year-old and other newer players – McCravey and Stephanie Rovetti – got field time against Brazil and Ireland, and then USA 7s head coach Chris Brown shortened his bench against France and knockout opponents Canada and New Zealand. Haungatau then came on early in the second half of the final and, against the reigning Olympic champion, attacked the line for a break and lovely backhanded pass to support. She ended up following Emba to the opposite sideline on the opposite end of the pitch, building a sense of: This is only the beginning. Haungatau has unique attributes and we can’t wait to see how this translates on the international stage and across the series.
NEAR-PITCH OBSERVATIONS
It was Gustaitis’ first tournament as co-captain, alongside returner Lauren Doyle, and she served as main spokesperson for the team. It is truly tough to compose one’s thoughts after a brutal 14-minute sprint in elevation – or do anything other than lie on the floor – but Gustaitis did a great job interfacing with World Rugby, USA Rugby and The Rugby Breakdown. Ilona Maher is also a willing, thoughtful interviewee and ended her time in Glendale with Player of the Final.
Curiously, there was more fanfare last year during the first edition of Glendale 7s. Most notably, the massive event tent behind the south stands was completely empty. There were no tables there, so perhaps it was meant for shade only? Last year, it was filled with vendors and jovial fans, but this year there was one small beer tent in a corner and three food trucks, one of which was serving (delicious!) New Zealand ice cream.
There also wasn’t a noticeable increase (perhaps decrease?) in the crowd, which is disappointing considering the USA finished second at this event last year. To boot, spectators sit side-by-side in the stands with Eagles. Injured USA 7s players like Joanne Fa’avesi and Thomas cheered from the stands all weekend, and tons of USA 15s Eagles were decked out in red, white and blue and sunning alongside fans. Fortunately, those who did make the trip to Glendale – which is beautiful in early October – were justly rewarded.
Media attendance was also down. Outside of organizing bodies World Rugby and USA Rugby, and a handful of photographers, TRB was the only on-site media conducting USA player and coach interviews per round. Fewer photographers is understandable, as only World Rugby’s rep (Travis Prior) was allowed to shoot on the pitch; everyone else has to shoot from the stands, which is a great way to discourage returners. Some professionals get creative in those circumstances, and the champ, Alex Ho, worked hard to frame cool shots and experiment around the pitch … and then share with TRB. Forever thank you.
CONCLUSION
I personally left Glendale scratching my head. This was the last chance for Americans to see on home soil and interact with many of the players who will represent Team USA at the 2020 Olympics, and yet that didn’t seem to be a compelling reason to fill the stadium. The Eagles are fulfilling their end of the relationship with fans – they’re winning at home – so here’s hoping fans circle their events on the calendar and express their support in person.
Brown did note a couple of USA Falcons / representative team opportunities this season – Barbados being one of them. The new USA 7s men’s stop is meant to hold a Los Angeles Invitational and there has been talk of a women’s competition, but details are TBD. The last couple of years, the rugby public has found out very late – in terms of sorting travel plans – that the Falcons were competing in Las Vegas, and fans who had already committed to the trip were pleasantly surprised to watch the team firsthand.
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