The USA men's national 7s team looked every bit what they are at the moment on Day One of Tournament One of the Madrid 7s—a team with talent and ability that has some young players who sometimes make mistakes.

All of that was on display in their third game of the day, when the Eagles gave up a key penalty while on the attack and Argentina turned all of that into pressure and a try. That try proved the difference as Argentina ended the day 2-0 with a 24-17 win over the Americans.

It was also on display on the first play of the day, when the USA players converged on the Portugal kickoff, missed it, and the ball fell to Pedro Ferreira who galloped in for a Portugal try. Against Portugal in the first game, the Eagles were dynamic and exciting and maddeningly inaccurate at times, eventually winning 38-17. It was fun to watch, but far from perfect.

They rebounded from the poor start with discipline. Joe Schroeder powered through to get them going and Harley Wheeler almost scored, but both did well to retain possession to set up Tala Talapusi to go in under the posts. Schroeder and Wheeler were active again for the next one, this time with Wheeler carrying three tacklers with him over the line. 

Marcus Tupuola was at the heart of getting the USA back onto the front foot, and he set up Martin Iosefo for a long run, and he then fed Kevon Williams for the third USA try. But they kind of took their foot off the gas at the end of the half, and Ferreira scored his second to keep Portugal close. That was the sort of red flag play the USA made all day.

In the second half, a partial break from Iosefo and lovely offload put Maka Unufe through. Then very good teamwork and ball movement set up Maceo Brown. And finally Christian Dyer, who hustled all day, sped on an angled run, fended off a tackler, and was in. Suddenly it was 38-10. Penalties saw the game drag on four minutes past the hooter, and Portugal scored a third try, one that was really very preventable.

USA 38
Tries: Talapusi, Wheeler, Williams, Unufe, Brown, Dyer
Convs: Talapusi 4

Portugal 17

In the second game of the day for the Eagles, they hammered Spain 35-5. It took four minutes for them to score, but finally a little change of direction behind the scrum allowed Perry Baker and Maceo Brown to work a move and Baker was in. Moments later, some good ball movement and Baker barely eased out of third gear as he scored his second.

Spain didn't look strong, and the USA team muscled through their defense, and with a little more confidence, they moved the ball more. A very nice loop move between military men Cody Melphy and Jake Lachina saw Melphy speed to the corner. Juan Ramos replied for Spain, but Baker raced in from long range to make it 28-5

And then perhaps the most fun try of the day. With time up and the USA with a penalty on their goal line, they opted to run it. Wheeler tapped, everyone got involved, and with some smooth passing Lachina was gone.

@SpeedSt11ck  @USARugby #Madrid7s pic.twitter.com/rYjStIEsMQ

— World Rugby ES (@WorldRugby_ES) February 20, 2021

USA 35
Tries: Baker 3, Melphy, Lachina
Convs: Talapusi 3, Melphy 2

Spain 5

And then they struggled against Argentina by leaking an early try and making silly mistakes that gave Argentina the momentum. After giving up that early try they got one back as Ben Pinkelman surged over on the wing—the big man looked like he'd have preferred some help from a faster teammate, but he did the job.

The first half ended with the teams tied 5-5, and then right from the restart Argentina attacked off a scrum. A nifty little chip to a chaser—Argentina kicks in 7s more than anyone else—led to Marcos Moneta racing in while the USA cover was too slow. The Eagles should have seen that coming, and Argentina led 12-5. 

The USA got the ball back but a bit of a no-look offload from Melphy ended up in Argentina hands, and a couple of missed tackles later the Pumas were in for another try and a 19-5 lead. The USA came back with much better teamwork and support play and it was a support line that allowed Dyer to get the pass to score. Back within a score at 19-12, the Eagles opened up the door and let Argentina score a soft try from the restart. And that was it. Time was up when the USA made it a one-try game with Brett Thompson charging down the sideline and curving around. But the damage had been done.

USA 17
Tries: Pinkelman, Dyer, Thompson
Convs: Melphy

Argentina 24

Overall, however, the USA had their moments. Malon Al-Jiboori was good in contact and Talapusi's kicking was very good. Iosefo broke the gain line and then used his support, and Tupuola and Williams took on playmaking and momentum-shifting responsibilities. But it will get harder from now on. On Sunday the USA has just one game, against an athletic Kenya team that could shock them. If the Eagles win, they will likely face Argentina again in the final.

That's kind of the minimum you'd expect from this group—making the final. What they should demand of themselves is to shore up the dumb penalties, and keep the pressure on, and they should beat the Pumas. Get loose with the ball and slow to the breakdown and it could spell trouble.