Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
The USA ended pool play in Cape Town with a 19-14 loss to Australia and finished second in its group. The Eagles will now play Canada at 3:34 a.m. Eastern in Sunday’s Cup Quarterfinals.
Last weekend, the teams last met in the bronze medal match at Dubai, and it was clear from the kickoff that Australia wanted retribution. An oppressive defense, notably from Ellia Green, got the Americans retreating in its attack, and Australia produced the turnover as Cassie Staples pulled Naya Tapper’s foot into touch. A couple of phases later, Sharni Williams and Green switched out wide, and then the latter regrouped for a looping path to beneath the posts. Williams converted for the 7-0 lead after one-and-a-half minutes.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
From the restart, Lauren Doyle attempted to work the outside defense before releasing her wing but Green was in the passing lane for the pick-off. Tapper managed to return the favor on Staples for a tackle into touch, setting up a USA lineout on its 22. A solid set piece followed and Australia buckled with a penalty, but Nicole Heavirland’s quick tap was ill supported and Williams drew the not-releasing penalty. Williams didn’t hesitate and from five meters out scored the centered try and conversion, 14-0 after four minutes.
The entire game had been played in the USA’s end and a Kelter chip-kick over the line exposed the no-sweeper defense. After a quick loss of possession, the USA regrouped from a scrum on Australia’s 40, and the ball worked sideline to sideline and saw good gains from reserve Kristi Kirshe and Kristen Thomas. The final series worked wide again to Kirshe who attacked the space between the final two defenders, while Kelter switched back inside for the offload into the gap and try, which Kelter converted: 14-7 into the break.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
Australia kept the restart and Ilona Maher did well to draw a not-releasing penalty on Jakiya Whitfield for the turnover. Maher followed with a solid pierce through the middle but the ball dribbled forward in the tackle. Australia looked to build from a scrum on its 22 but a bouncing pass enticed the defense into a heavy press and eventually sees Cheta Emba stand up a ballcarrier and wrestle away possession. Emba had a go weak side and then the ball worked through Heavirland, Maher and Doyle, who drew a not-releasing penalty from Staples. The USA was quick to go, and from the next ruck, Doyle took the unguarded weak side to the try zone, 14-14 with Kelter’s conversion.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
There were three-and-a-half minutes to play and as the clock wore down, it was the USA with the favorable territory. Alicia Lucas and Emma Tonegato should have connected in the midfield for a breakaway try but a forward pass ended that threat. Australia allowed the Americans to build as Lucas unbound from the 50-meter scrum too early, resulting in a Kelter penalty kick to touch and 40-meter lineout. Australia’s 10th penalty of the tournament followed with an offsides call in the set piece, and Kelter made good use with a solid break. Emba followed but was penalized for not-releasing.
With play deep in Australia’s end, Tonegato stepped Abby Gustaitis and then drove kept her legs moving through Heavirland’s tackle to break free and put down the go-ahead try, 19-14.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
There was time for one more restart, and the USA played confidently as Kirshe, Tapper and Kelter carried well through the defense. Kelter’s stepping overcommitted the defense and the ball smartly swung wide for a big overload. Tapper lined up the pass to Kirshe and Lucas deliberately knocked on the ball to earn a yellow card. That said, that 2 vs. 1 pass should have happened sooner. Kirshe further stressed the defense with an accelerating run and then the ball moved to Thomas and Emba to an open lane out wide. An unforced knock-on from Emba ended the game.
The USA will now play Canada in the Cup rounds.