Medal Chase Ends for USA Women
The USA's medal chase is over in the Women's Olympic Rugby event in Tokyo.
The Eagles lost 21-12 to Great Britain, staking GB to a 21-0 lead thanks to two tries from Jasmine Joyce and another from captain Abbie Brown—Holly Atchison converted all three.
The USA's difficulty in getting possession early in the game bit them badly here, and it wasn't until late in the second half that Kristi Kirshe was able to score an unconverted try. Naya Tapper also touched down, but that was when the game was essentially over.
So vying for the medals will be New Zealand (36-0 winners over ROC), Fiji (14-12 upset winners over Australia, Great Britain, and the winner of France and China.
The USA plays the loser of France v China in the 5th-place semi. Australia plays the Russian Olympic Committee team in the other.
Weird Comeback Sees USA Women Past Australia
The USA Women ended pool play 3-0 after coming back to beat Australia 14-12 in a game where they didn't look at all like they would be able to win that game.
The Eagles did not look like a team poised to win the pool for the first 10 minutes or so. The first half was punctuated by little errors and Australia's ability to pin the USA in their own end. The game was 0-0 well into the first half, and then, finally, a big mistake.
Trying to run out of her 22, Naya Tapper was tackled. She released the ball and got up to regather the ball and move on. However, she was ruled to not have actually regained her feet. Penalty Australia, and seconds later Australia's Sharni Williams was in under the posts. Williams converted and the half ended 7-0.
Eagles Win in Tokyo Again But Work To Do
The USA is 2-0 in the Women’s Olympic Rugby event, and once again they spent a large proportion of the game on defense.
The Eagles were in control for the entire game and won 17-7, giving up a try just before full tine. They have secured a spot in the quarterfinals and will play Australia in the final pool match.
The Eagles still had trouble winning restarts, but they defended with patience and physicality. It was that patience that finally earned a scrum from a knock-on, and Ilona Maher simply took and angle, fended off any attention, and was in to make it 5-0.
The USA still couldn’t win their restart but with Laurne Doyle and Cheta Emba playing strong on defense they kept Japan pinned back.
USA Women Open Olympics With Win
The USA Women's 7s team beat China 28-14 in a game where China put them under some pressure, but ultimately put their rivals away.
The USA started poorly. China kept the ball and got an early high-tackle penalty.
China worked the ball to the sideline and while Lauren Doyle's tackle knocked the ball loose, somehow there was no knock-on call from referee Selica Winiata. Instead, China got a lineout, Kristen Thomas stole the throw-in only to have the ball ripped out of her hands.
China got another high-tackle penalty and ran quickly with some nice quick offloads to go through for the try and a 7-0 lead.
It wasn't smart from the Eagles, but they were also a little unlucky.
Now For the Women: How Can Eagles Medal?
The Olympic rugby competition continues tonight for US-based fans with the women’s competition kicking off, and the USA has a real shot at a medal here.
With a fairly decent run of form, the Eagle women bring a diverse combination of speed, elusiveness, aerial ability, and power. Whether they can put that all together remains to be seen, but the indications are they should.
We will know in the first couple of games, to be sure.
Fiji Wins Men's Olympic Rugby; USA 6th
Fiji won the Men's Olympic 7s Gold Medal, led by the brilliant Jerry Tuwai and playing some beautiful rugby.
New Zealand took Silver and Argentina, playing the type of tenacious, unflinching 7s they are capable of, took Bronze.
Tries by Meli Derenalagi, Sireli Maqala, and Jiuta Wainiqolo, and a penalty goal (!) from Waisea Nacuqu led Fiji to a 27-12 victory. New Zealand made one crucial error. Andrew Knewstubb chased a grubber back into in-goal and slid down to touch it down. But he, inexplicably, decided to do it with his eyes closed. The ball slipped through his hands, rolled to the side, and Maqala pounced to score.
Seven Atlantis Alumni in Tokyo
Atlantis is an invitational 7s rugby club whose mission is to encourage and develop American rugby by playing domestic and international tournaments; since being founded in 1986 approximately 1500 total players and 250 USA Eagles have played for Atlantis.
This article was contributed by Emil Signes, Atlantis Rugby Founder
Among those players are seven individuals who have been chosen to represent the USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
On the women's side Atlantis will be represented on the field by Abby Gustaitis, Ariana Ramsey, and ChetaEmba with Emilie Bydwell serving as Head of Women's High Performance and on the men's side Atlantis will be represented by Brett Thompson, Carlin Isles, and Naima Fualaau.
Olympic Men's Rugby Quarterfinals: Momentum Shifts
The USA Men's 7s team's chase for an Olympic medal is over as they lost 26-21 to Great Britain in the quarterfinals.
Once again the Eagles started well, as they surged out to a 21-0 lead. Danny Barrett crashed over for a try, charging up the middle.
That success forced Great Britain to worry about Barrett, which left some space open on the other side of the field. So ... the ball went out to Perry Baker and he cruised in for a try to make it 14-0. Moments later, off the restart, with a ridiculous tip pass from Martin Iosefo setting up Baker for his second.
In the space of five minutes their big stars had scored three big tries, and Madison Hughes had converted all of them.
And then the wheels fell off.
South Africa Edges USA; Both Look To Quarters
South Africa beat the USA 17-12 in Round 3 of the Men's Rugby 7s in the Tokyo Olympics, or, should we saw the USA lost 17-12, because South Africa got plenty of help.
The game started with South Africa on offense, but the Eagles defended patiently and in an organized manner. Eventually the Blitzbokke were penalized for diving into the ruck and the USA got the ball back.
They went wide to Carlin Isles, who pulled out of trouble and sent it back left where Joe Schroeder shed a tackler and dragged another over the line.
Men's Olympic Rugby: Where We Are After Day One
We're getting ready for Day Two of the three-day Men's Olympic 7s in Tokyo and here's where everything stands right now.
Every team that is 2-0, has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. So the USA will play South Africa at 10:30PM ET tonight (Live stream here starting at 8PM ET>>) is just to see who wins the pool. South Africa's results against Kenya and Ireland — 14-5 and 33-15 — indicate that the Blitzbokke might be in better position to win that game.
But having to tough it out has its benefits.
New Zealand has looked dominant and Great Britain has too, albeit against some not-so-strong competition.
USA to Host All Blacks in DC
WASHINGTON, DC (USA Rugby Release) — The USA Men’s National Team XVs will host the most successful rugby team in the sport’s history, the New Zealand All Blacks, for the first time ever in Washington, DC when they square off on Saturday, October 23, 2021 in the inaugural 1874 Cup, at FedEx Field. It will be the first time the All Blacks have played in the United States since 2016.
The 1874 Cup references the year rugby was first played in the United States, a collegiate match between McGill and Harvard University. The 1874 Cup celebrates the long and ever-growing history the United States has with the game of rugby.
In Another Close Day One Clash, Eagles Get Job Done in Olympics
The USA won their second pool game in the men's Olympic rugby competition; it was rough sledding but they did it, and are now 2-0 and in good position for the rest of the competition.
Against Ireland, the Eagles started off well, working the ball rom sideline to sideline. Martin Iosefo and Stephen Tomasin made small inroads but perhaps the key play was Danny Barrett, taking a pass from Tomasin and not deciding to bull ahead.
Instead, the big man held off, waited, and spun the ball left, where, eventually, Perry Baker eluded a tackle and was free down the sideline.
Up 5-0 the Eagles made it 12-0 almost immediately. Iosefo went up for the restart, knocked it back, and captain Madison Hughes raced in to toe the ball ahead. The skipper then outpaced everyone to dive onto the ball, and then convert to give his side a two-score lead.
USA Escapes Kenya Scare in Olympic Opener
The USA is 1-0 in Men's Olympic Rugby pool action but it wasn't easy, or pretty.
The Americans seemed in control after about four minutes, but then started making silly errors that put themselves under pressure. Eventually, however, they needed just a couple of big plays, and they got them.
The Eagles received the kickoff and sent Danny Barrett up the sideline, and almost immediately he took a knock above his eye and was quick bleeding all over the place. He was patched up, but following that Folau Niua missed touch on a kick following a penalty.
A Lot on His Shoulders; Joe Schroeder's Olympics
With the injury to Ben Pinkelman every USA forward on the Olympic 7s team will have to raise their game to compensate.
Some of the load will fall on the admittedly broad shoulder of Joe Schroeder. The powerful, long-striding Schroeder has slowly been getting more and more minutes with the USA team, and he brings an extra offensive dimension team. He is also an intriguing story.
Schroeder played high school rugby for Royal Irish in Indiana, helping the team to a national HS club championship in 2012.
"Joe is the oldest of three that played for me and they all played in the high school final," said current Royal Irish Head Coach Dave Snyder. "All amazing players. Joe is one of the best people I've ever met or coached."
USA vs Canada RWC Qualifier Set for Glendale. Tickets on Sale
Glendale, Colo. — The USA Men’s Eagles will kick off their Rugby World Cup qualification series on September 11 at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo., taking on border rival Canada for the final match in a Rugby Americas North set.
Pending results from home-and-away fixtures against Canada, the United States will next host South America 1 or 2 at home on October 2, the first of two matches looking to secure a spot at the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. Tickets to both matches are now available to fans and supporters. The two-game set marks the Men’s Eagles return to Infinity Park after their last defeat of Canada in July 2019 for the Pacific Nations Cup. That match having sold out, fans are encouraged to secure tickets early.
