After a disappointing start at Sydney 7s, the USA got the job done in round two with a 34-19 win over Brazil. However, a couple of late tries from Brazil narrowed the Americans’ point differential in a tight Pool B.
The USA was eager to work, as evidenced by quick transitions between scores. No time for celebrations. After a couple of exchanges in possession, Lauren Doyle looped around the back of the scrum and drew a penalty in contact. Abby Gustaitis went quickly from the mark and the ball moved wide to Steph Rovetti, who scored three tries from wing, 5-0 after two minutes.
Alev Kelter’s restart came off the foot strangely and didn’t go 10 but the center made up for the turnover by getting over Brazil’s ball and forcing a not-releasing penalty. Eti Haungatau went on a couple of bruising runs this game, skipping out of tackles and then finding support for continued go-forward. On this occasion, the 19-year-old found Rovetti for the try, 10-0.
The USA got hands on the Nicole Heavirland restart but Brazil reined in the ball. The defense did well to drive Brazil backward, but then lovely Izzy Cerullo offload out of a double tackle put Bianca Silva into space and the flyer was able to take the corner for the try, which Raquel Kochhann converted: 10-7.
Brazil preferred to send deep restarts to the USA, and Rovetti fielded this restart nicely. After Haungatau went up the middle for some meters, Kelter took a chance on the short side of the ruck, taking on Mariana Nicolau. Kelter pushed off that would-be tackler and then held off Silva long enough for Gustaitis to get in offload range. The captain then put her head down and sprinted down the sideline to beat Kochhann to the try line: 15-7.
Gustaitis was able to knock back Kelter’s restart, and Haungatau and Maher made north-south meters. The ball then worked wide, Kelter held the final two defenders, and then put Rovetti away. Kochhann was again tasked with the chase and looked gassed. Kelter hit a lovely conversion for the 22-7 halftime lead.
The Eagles retained momentum in the first portion of the second half and added another two tries to lead 34-7. A pair of Haungatua breaks got the team moving, and the prop did well to drive Brazil into touch after it intercepted a pass along the sideline. Heavirland and Thomas connected for a lovely lineout, and then Kelter nearly got through everyone en route to the try line. Cerullo made the clutch tackle but Thomas was there for the pickup and diveover. Kelter converted.
A really nice tackle from Kelter, who read the loop and halted the ballcarrier well behind the gainline, set up the next score. A turnover in the breakdown followed, and the USA set the scrum. Kayla Canett looped around the back of the set piece and did well to corral a high pass and sprint toward the try line. She had Kelter outside her and was tackled, but Kelter was quick in support and picked up for the try.
The USA was in control and the point differential was in a good place, but Brazil kept pushing. Rovetti tried a bit too hard to avoid contact and ended up knocking on while retreating and going to ground. From the scrum, Silva took off for the sideline, and Nicolau’s dummy run got Kristi Kirshe to bite on the wing. Rovetti is fast, but chasing laterally across the pitch didn’t have the angle to catch Silva rounding the corner, 34-14 with Cerullo’s conversion.
There was time for one more restart, and it went deep again, and a knock-on eventually stopped play. The referee indicated that there was time for one more play so Brazil set the scrum, moved it to center Thalia Costa, and the flyer ran away from both Rovetti and Kirshe to end the game with a try: 34-19.
Canada remains and is 2-0 after defeating Fiji 20-14. If USA beats Canada – which is the Eagles only chance to advance to the Cup semifinals – and Fiji beats Brazil, then Pool B will end with three 2-1 teams.
USA Starters: Alev Kelter, Abby Gustaitis, Eti Haungatau, Nicole Heavirland, Steph Rovetti, Ilona Maher, Lauren Doyle
USA: 34
Tries: Rovetti 3, Kelter, Gustaitis, Thomas
Cons: Kelter 2
Brazil 19
Tries: Silva, Costa
Cons: Kochhann, Cerullo