The 2022 LA Sevens produced perhaps the best lineup of quarterfinalists any promoter of a rugby event could want.
The USA surprised many by starting the tournament with three superb tries to put World Series leaders South Africa on their heels, and it kept going from there. When the dust had settled, the Eagles were in the quarterfinals, and so were the other teams with the biggest fan following at Dignity Health Sports Park: Samoa, Fiji, and perhaps most surprising of all, Kenya.
Sunday’s action promises to be a thriller, but the atmosphere could hardly be expected to be better with those teams still in with a shot to win it all.
Add in Argentina, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, and you figure it’s going to be loud.
Pool D
Samoa seems to bring their best in the USA and when they play on American soil you wonder how they can ever lose. Their power in contact and their offloading skills—plus the odd kick out of nowhere—saw them blow by Kenya, Scotland, and England. Vaa Apelu Maliko is showing himself to be among the best in the world, and Samoa was luminous.
Kenya bounced back from their initial loss to squeeze by England and then stride away from Scotland. The Kenyan fan contingent, always among the loudest and proudest on USA soil, went wild.
The Lions are getting contributions throughout the lineup, but Billy Odhiambo and Willy Ambaka are leading the way.
Pool C
Fiji and Ireland brought superstars to the party and Terry Kennedy started scoring tries early, closing in on 50 and almost guaranteeing the try-scoring title for the season. They needed some last-minute heroics from Chay Mullins to get by the tenacious French, but that fueled a dismantling of Wales. Fiji, meanwhile, were very Fiji. Their fans were in grand voice and it seemed like every one of them had a Fijian flag to wave. It seemed like any time an opponent inched their way back into the game, Viwa Naduvalo was on hand to score, or set up a teammate. Waisea Nacuqu was no less dangerous. They held off Wales and France, and then stretched their legs against Ireland to finish up 3-0.
Pool A
Perhaps the most lopsided pool saw too many blowouts as the physical, precise Argentina and the dynamic Australia looked to take control. Spain was, unfortunately, outmatched in this pool, but there was some drama.
Two brilliant tries from the Aussies, with Dietrich Roache and Maurice Longbottom doing the honors, saw them come back to beat Argentina 19-14. Argentina went on to dismiss a plucky Japan by working the restarts well and offloading smartly out of contact. The thing about Argentina is they have become really unpleasant to tackle, and defenders pay dearly for poor form.
Australia hammered Spain to go 3-0.
