The USA finished up the Cape Town 7s losing 29-19 to Fiji in the Plate Final.

It was an up-and-down Day Two for the Eagles, who finished the weekend 3-3, 6th in the tournament, and tied with Argentina for 3rd in the World Series standings after two tournaments.

But Head Coach Mike Friday won’t be happy with the series of errors and little panicky movements that characterized some of the USA’s play on Sunday. The USA has won games by playing with supreme confidence, knowing that they could score if they just settle down and play their game. But at times on Sunday they rushed the comeback.

The day began with the Cup Quarterfinals, where Kenya dominated the first half. And while Perry Baker scored two second-half tries to make it 19-10,  Kenya pulled away 26-10.

It was the first time in this young season that the USA was simply not in the game.

They recovered against an obviously hurting New Zealand squad, with the new Kiwi-Killers Kevin Swiryn and Will Holder scoring tries in the first half, and Carlin Isles and Holder again making it 28-7 before New Zealand scored one more.

That set up the Plate Final, which was a weird one. The USA won all six Fiji kickoffs, with Holder hauling down five in impressive style. And yet, the Americans could not use that all-important first possession. 

A promising break by Swiryn didn’t link with Isles - who would have been away had he got the pass, and Isles then had the ball in space but knocked it on. It seemed as if every time the Eagles didn’t score as designed, they wanted to score two tries on the next effort. Fiji scored two early tries on turnovers, and while Niua capped off a brilliant team movement that covered the length of the field, mistakes kept hurting. 

A lovely, weaving run from Zack test set up Madison Hughes, but then they gave the ball right back and left a hole up the middle. Then Baker tried to gather a dropped ball rather than falling on it, and Fiji scored from that. It was that kind of game.

So no Cup Semifinals for the USA team for the first time in four tournaments, but a Plate Final isn’t so bad. But the team that seemed confident in everything they do seemed to be a little shaken on Sunday; certainly they were impatient when it didn’t all fall into place immediately.

Third place in the World Series is an outstanding start for the USA. But it will be interesting to see what they can do when they don’t put themselves in a hole due to early errors.

Cape Town 7s USA Day Two Box Scores: 

USA 10

Tries: Baker

Kenya 26

Tries: Injera 2, Ambaka Nadayara 2

Convs: Adema 3

____________

USA 28

Tries: Holder 2, Swiryn, Isles

Convs: Hughes

New Zealand 14

Tries: Pulu, Curtis

Convs: Waaka

____________

USA 19

Tries: Niua, Hughes, Thompson

Convs: Hughes

Fiji 29

Tries: Katonibau, Mulevoro, Ravouvou 2, Veremalua

Convs: Ravouvou 2