Emba scored the first comeback try for the U.S. / Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
The USA Women’s 7s team played the game that everyone wanted to see: The one where they were tested, rallied from a deficit, and pulled out a win against a formidable opponent. After a 14-12 win against Australia, the Eagles end the 2020 Tokyo Olympics pool play undefeated. Next up: Quarterfinals at 5:20 a.m. Friday
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The USA and Australia spent the opening three minutes exchanging possession, as a lineout throw over the top, a pass into touch, knock-ons all halted the teams’ fluidity. Evania Pelite sliced her head, and the squads regrouped during the stoppage. Australia made decent ground after play resumed but more importantly, a nuance of the refereeing showed itself. Naya Tapper is typically very dangerous getting back to her feet after a tackle and gaining more ground as the defense resets, but center ref Julia Zussman (Canada) was having none of it. The wing was penalized twice for the movement, which was otherwise deemed legal during the World Sevens Series, and will have to adjust that behavior for the rest of the tournament.
The turnover saw Australia counter quickly, and good eyes from Charlotte Caslick saw a skip pass move to Sharni Williams further from the congestion, and the veteran carved through the middle for the centered try, which she converted: 7-0.
The half followed shortly afterward, and so did Australia’s second score. The USA made really nice gains through Kristi Kirshe, Ilona Maher and Tapper. But once Tapper was at the five meter, Zussman again penalized the wing after getting to her feet after the tackle and attempting to extend the drive forward. Australia didn’t wait for the discussion that followed and moved the ball to Demi Hayes for the long-range, uncontested try: 12-0.
There was still plenty of time remaining in the match, and vice captain Abby Gustaitis put her team in a good position by keeping the restart. Alev Kelter crashed up field, and then Nia Toliver expressed her physically along the sideline. Another Kelter cut through the middle worked to Cheta Emba, who bounced off of Dominique du Toit before entering the try zone and centering the score for Nicole Heavirland to convert: 12-7.
There were three-and-a-half minutes to play when Heavirland sent the restart into the air. Australia knocked on in its own end, and Kirshe, in the thick of it, quickly scooped up the ball and offloaded to Gustaitis running on. The prop went the final 10 meters for the try, and Heavirland converted for the 14-12 lead.
Two minutes remained on the clocked, and Maher did well to keep possession for the U.S. during the restart. Kelter muscled through the middle with such confidence, just absorbing hits and looking for support through the contact. Jordan Matyas was ever-present, as were Emba and Kirshe, and they all made ground. Toliver also held her own on the sideline, and it was a final penalty on the youngster that essentially ended Austrlia’s last-gasp chances. Heavirland tapped through the mark and kicked to touch for the win.
The USA advances to the quarterfinals and will compete against a TBA opponent at 5:30 a.m. ET Friday.