The USA got some measure of revenge over Fiji, winning the 5th place semifinal against the Fijians in RIo.

The USA’s Olympic medal dreams may be over, but there are still rugby games to be played and national pride at stake. The Eagles lost to Fiji in the opening game of their Olympics thanks to mistakes prompted by Fiji’s blitz’ defense.

And it looked as if the same story would play out in this game. The Americans could not find their way through the Fijian defense, and were pressured into dropped balls and iffy passes.

Bottled in their own end, the Eagles gifted Fiji a first-half try. Alev Kelter took off up the left sideline and offloaded to Kathryn Johnson. The pass a high and Johnson a little too close to react, and the loose ball was toed ahead by the Fijians almost to the tryline.

The Americans stopped a try there, but the ball was knocked forward and Bui Baravilala picked it up from an offside position. Penalty Fiji, and from there they scored easily to lead 7-0.

The Eagles were in good position to get those seven points back right at the end of the half. Jillion Potter took a charge up the middle, and then out of the ruck Kelly Griffin popped a pass to Victoria Folayan flying in unmarked. But the pass was high, and Folayan couldn’t hold onto it, and the half ended.

The second half started with Fiji on the charge, but they had trouble holding onto the ball in contact as the Eagles hit them with physicality. Jessica Javelet took off out of her 22. She was corralled and smartly pulled out to send the ball back infield. From there was give-and-go between Kelter and Johnson didn’t click, but Kelter then picked up the loose ball, broke a tackle, and galloped in under the posts. She hit the conversion, and it was 7-7.

The restart was supposed to be a key USA weapon, but you need to score to attack from your restart. Finally, they did that - Johnson chased hard and forced a knock forward. The Eagles consolidated with a ruck, and Richelle Stephens, seeing she was needed as a halfback, raced in and passed to the weak side where Johnson was waiting. The former Hopkins HS (Minn.) star took contact and offloaded to Stephens, who had smartly followed her pass. The recently-graduated Fallbrook HS player was sure of hand and went in untouched to score.

Stephens came on as a sub in the second half and did some good things. Javelet and Ryan Carlyle have also given the team a spark in the second period all tournament.

That made it 12-7. Fiji had another shot to equalize, but the USA hits were hard and aggressive, forcing Fiji backward, and eventually a penalty. Baravilala kicked to touch and the USA were in to play France for 5th. That game kicks off at 6pm local time, 5pm ET, 2pm PT.

USA 12

Tries: Kelter, Stephens

Convs: Kelter

Fiji 7

Also in the Olympics, Brazil beat Japan 33-5 to take 9th, and finish the tournament 3-3. Kenya beat Colombia 22-10 to take 11th.