The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Sydney did not begin well for the USA Women, which dropped a 19-14 contest to Fiji to open up the tournament. With no quarterfinal round, the Americans must now beat Brazil and Canada to have a shot at the Cup semifinals.
Fiji has the ability to incite chaos. When everything is in sync, the team can dismantle defenses as it keeps the ball alive through tight interplay and pop passes, and embraces an adventurous style of play. Today, Fiji paired that attack with a confident defense, pressuring some handling errors and other mistakes that saw the USA lose some composure at times. Fiji earned this win.
There were a lot of knock-ons and loose ball in the first half, but the knock-ons continued for the Americans in the second half. Fiji held onto a lot of possession in the first seven minutes but the majority of the match was played in its end. Ilona Maher was the example for the U.S. As outstretched arms attempted to corral slippery ballcarriers, the prop planted a thumping tackle, shoulders and all, to dislodge the ball and influence play.
The USA’s first two big attacking opportunities ended in knock-ons. Another knock-on in the tackle and a penalty in the scrum kept the ball in Fiji’s hands. It looked like Fiji was on its way to the first try of the game as Tokasa Seniyasi peeled into open space and angled toward the sideline, but Maher did an excellent job closing in and dedicating herself to that tackle, just getting a hand on the flyer to pull the game into touch. It’s tough to beat Ilona Maher.
The USA restarted with the lineout and Fiji was pinged for an offsides penalty. From there, Nicole Heavirland put the penalty play into motion, the ball moved behind the dummy runner to Steph Rovetti, who held her opposites before releasing the ball to Kristi Kirshe. The wing got the offload to Rovetti coming around and the center dove into the corner of the try zone. Unfortunately, her foot just nicked the sideline at the five meter.
Fiji resumed with the lineout and the ball sailed over the top with no one but Maher in the vicinity for the pick-up. It was an easy try, and just reward for the prop’s work during the opening six minutes. Heavirland added the extras for the 7-0.
Fiji answered immediately. Alev Kelter, who came on after the USA try, sent a deeper kickoff, Fiji fielded it cleanly, and Luisa Tisolo split a fractured defense for the speedy try down the middle. Tisolo added the conversion for the 7-7 halftime tie.
Fiji gave the USA a taste of its own medicine when it rushed its second-half kickoff and kept the ball. The triumph was short-lived, however, as an offsides penalty handed the ball back to the USA. Kelter cleared to the Fjij 40 meter, but the short lineout failed and the ball rebounded into touch. But the game was in good territory, and the USA let its defense do the talking.
The outlet pass from the scrum hit the ground, allowing Kelter to fly into attack and produce a turnover. The ball moved quickly to Kirshe on the wing, but a knock-on followed. Another Fiji scrum, followed by oppressive defense, followed by another opportunistic poach from Kelter. The ball was out when the center picked up from Fiji’s side of the ruck, and Kristen Thomas was right there to set up the 2-on-1 for the try. Kelter converted: 14-7 with four minutes to play.
The restart went deep again, and Tisolo and Seniyasi continued to produce problems for the Eagles. Then made consistent gains and were instrumental to creating space for Alowesi Nakoci, who broke down the short side of the ruck to score. With Seniyasi’s conversion, Fiji tied the game, 14-all, with two-and-a-half minutes to play.
Fiji tried to hit a hole behind Maher, but the prop gathered the restart effortlessly and moved the ball back to the middle of the field. There seemed to be some confusion and Fiji’s pressure defense forced Lauren Doyle to knock on, marking the USA’s sixth handling error. From the scrum, Fiji made ground on the wing and Kirshe was pinged for offsides. In scoring position, the fast attack was relentless, and after committing defenders on one sideline, sent the ball to opposite sideline. Final defender Kelter had no choice but to try and intercept the ball as it sailed over her head – and did get a fingertip on it – but the pass connected and Fiji was in the try zone.
But it was a solid, dedicated chase from Kayla Canett that saved the USA. The reserve scrumhalf forced the ballcarrier to put a foot out the back of the try zone and therefore nullify the score. But Fiji was back on the ball, as Kelter’s attempted intercept was deemed a deliberate knock-on and the center was sent off for what would be the remainder of the game.
Fiji made good use of the extra room and choose a scrum to reset play. A missed pass in the centers allowed the USA swarm but Fiji, which always seems unperturbed moving backward, regrouped and settled into its pop-ball game. The support was there and it stretched the defense. Vasiti Solikoviti nearly scored on a switch out wide, but the recycle allowed Mereseini Leivere to score, 19-14 to Fiji.
The USA will play its second pool play game against Brazil at 11:08 p.m. Eastern.
USA Starters: Abby Gustaitis, Ilona Maher, Eti Haungatau, Nicole Heavirland, Lauren Doyle, Steph Rovetti, Kristi Kirshe
USA 14
Tries: Ilona Maher, Kristen Thomas
Cons: Heavirland, Kelter
FIJI 19
Tries: Leivere, Nakoci, Tisolo
Cons: Tisolo, Seniyasi