The USA dropped its final pool play match in Glendale, 24-14 to France, and heads to Sunday’s Cup quarterfinals against Canada (10:55 a.m. MT).
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France squared up on the physicality front – in the breakdown, in the tackle – and the defense had its fringes covered. France was having a go on attack as well, nearly landing a cheeky lineout that produced a collective gasp, and a second one as the throw-in fortuitously – for USA fans – hit the ground.
But instead a couple of knock-ons afforded resets. From a USA scrum, the ball moved to flyhalf Lauren Doyle, who considered the pass out to the line but instead took on the defense and swerved through for the opening try. Nicole Heavirland converted for the 7-0 lead.
The Americans had another opportunity when a penalty set up a nice Alev Kelter kick to touch and lineout inside the 10 meter. After a few phases, the final pass to Naya Tapper knocked forward. France was ready for that Tapper collision.
That turnover essentially built into a break up the sideline and a not-releasing penalty on Joanna Grisez. Carla Neisen went quickly from the mark and connected with Coralie Bertrand for the try, converted by Caroline Drouin, 7-all.
Shortly after the restart, France was penalized for eight players on the pitch and it looked like another scoring opportunity as Kelter’s went to France’s 22. The lineout was solid, the ball moved wide, and three tacklers committed to Tapper and slowed down that recycle. Ilona Maher went on another thumping run on the sideline and the offload out of contact to Abby Gustaistis was just short for a knock-on. The USA also stole a French lineout as the clock continued two minutes past regulation, but the half ended 7-7.
France kicked the restart deep and Cheta Emba did well to corale it. The defense did well to wrap up the ball as Gustaitis attempted to get the ball back to her team, but a penalty followed. France went quickly and the flip pass to Chloe Pelle ended in a corner try, 12-7.
France continued to rely on its defense to produce offense or salve mistakes. A penalty in the breakdown saw Les Bleus build into the USA end, and Anne-Cecile Ciofani split Emba and Tapper to get the defense to scramble. as the defense scrambled. Inside the 10 meter, Tapper very nearly turned over a ruck to slow the build to the try line, but the ball came out just in time to find Grisez looping around for the try, 19-7.
The USA needed two scores in less than three minutes, and Jordan Matyas put the Eagles on the front foot in pursuit of that deficit. Heavirland moved the ball to Kristi Kirshe, who sized up Amedee Monserrat and decided to have a go – with try-producing results. Heavirland converted for the 19-14 scoreline.
With very little time left, the USA took a lineout deep in France’s end, and a lovely set piece move saw Lauren Doyle cross into dangerous territory. There was a little confusion out wide and Ciofani stepped into the passing lane to bat down the ball. Everyone except Ciofani awaited for the knock-on call but the referee did not see it, and Ciofani played the whistle for the try, 24-14.
“I think it just challenged us to get our connection and fight to get that,” Jordan Matyas said of take-aways from the match. “At times we lost it a little bit but I thought we did well to try to connect again.”
As for positives, “They really tested our defense and in the first half it was really good and we were fighting to work together,” Matyas added. “And just being able to practice our attack and run the shapes with a pressure D.”
Considering day one of the 2019-20 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series as a whole, Matyas indicated that this hometown event has been a long-awaited run-out:
“Preseason definitely gets you itching to just get on the field and play and be able to put everything you’ve practiced to the test,” Matyas said.
“It’s been amazing to just look out in the crowd and see a bunch of our friends and family cheering us on and it’s a great energy to be able to play in front of.”
The hometown crowd has also been able to see some of the younger and newer Eagles up close and personal.
“I think they’ve been doing amazing,” Matyas commended. “I’m just really proud of our new cap, Eti [Haungatua], and just to see her hard work rewarded has been a really incredible experience.”
Cup Quarterfinals – Sunday
10:11 a.m. France v Ireland
10:22 a.m. Australia v Russia
10:55 a.m. USA v Canada
11:17 a.m. New Zealand v Spain
USA7s #Glendale7s