The USA Men’s 7s team bowed out with two losses on Day Two of the Wellington 7s, finishing tied for 7th after making the Cup Quarterfinals.

The Eagles played as if they were frustrated, going into a lot of contact, and letting setbacks get into their heads.

The USA played quite well in the first seven minutes against Fiji, scoring when Carlin Isles handled a poor pass, ran a little backwards, and then around the corner for a try. The rest of that half the USA defended doggedly against a tough Fiji team, and it all seemed to be going nicely. But with a penalty to the Eagles and no time left on the clock, they opted to play rather than kick the ball to touch and go into halftime. The choice bit them in the butt as Fiji scored a soft try to take a 7-5 lead.

Coach Mike Friday told the players to forget that error, but they didn’t, really, and were continually frustrated at their inability to free up Isles and Perry Baker. Fiji scored two more tries, and it wasn’t until the end of the game that they were a little more patient - Will Holder scoring a consolation try to finish the game 21-12 to Fiji.

Against Australia, it was more of the same. They couldn’t get Baker or Isles enough space. Zack Test and Danny Barrett tried to get through, but couldn’t find the connections. Madison Hughes scored a brilliant try off a nice pass from Test, but after that Australia’s repeated penalties, that did not get a yellow card even after they made no effort to retreat ten meters, got under their skin.

The Eagles were penalized, and then got another ten meters marched off for complaining, and Australia scored twice to win it 17-5.

To add injury to insult, Kevin Swiryn went down with a nasty-looking injury.

The USA team certainly lacked a special ability to find holes in the middle of the field, and the teams that beat them - England, Australia, and Fiji, all defended with physicality and aggression.

The USA will certainly drop in the World Series standings, as Argentina and England will finish ahead of the Americans in points, and New Zealand will likely pass them as well.

Note: Reports are that Swiryn injured his ACL and will have surgery in the next day or so.

The USA officially slipped to 6th in the World Series standings, as Wellington winners New Zealand, 4th-place England, and Plate runners-up Argentina bypassed them.