The USA Men’s 7s team put together as good a eight-minute period of rugby as you would want to see in their opening game of Day Two in Hong Kong.

And the eight minutes were even more important because thanks to the first six, they were down 14-0.

The Eagles received the kickoff from Argentina and even though the ball didn’t travel ten meters, the Americans opted to play with it. That might have been a mistake as Argentina got the ball back, and ran some impressive phases back into the USA 22, and eventually Rodrigo Etchart cut back against the grain for a try and a 7-0 lead.

The USA got some opportunity to go on the front foot thanks to a hold-on penalty by Argentina. And from the ensuing lineout ran an attack that ended when Madison Hughes was unfairly called for holding onto the ball in the tackle - the tackle assist in that play never release Hughes. But the penalty stood, and then Maka Unufe was yellow-carded for delaying the play. The USA defense tackled hard and worked hard, but ultimately it was too much to stop the 7s Pumas, who put Juan Pablo Estelles in at the corner. 14-0 Argentina.

With Unufe still on the sidelines, the Eagles tried to get something going, but it was tough. They passed the ball back and forth, and worked through a series of rucks, but could not get out of their own 22. During that period, every player made a key play to keep the possession active. Eventually they found enough space, and Perry Baker stretched his legs on the outside, and then cut back inside to go 80 meters and end the first half with a 14-7 Argentina lead.

Argentina tried to get that try back at the beginning of the second half, and were almost away. However Garrett Bender made a key tackle, and then, moments later, made another. This last one saved a try, and Bender got to his feet instantly and stole the ball cleanly. The USA players sent the ball wide to Hughes, who set up Danny Barrett for a power run as he shoved away three tacklers and then fed Unufe for a superb try that had a bit of everything.

Now it was tied 14-14, and the Eagles took control. From the restart, Baker caught the ball over his head with one hand, secured it as he crashed to the grass, and then popped up to run down the sidelines for the go-ahead try. 19-14. That try was Baker’s 60th in World Series play.

Looking for the killer blow, Hughes tried to kick ahead for Baker, but the sweeper was there. However, so was Zack Test, who laid in two thumping tackles, the second of which spilled the ball and almost led to Hughes going in at the corner.

He was caught, but from a scrum moments later the backs worked a nifty move and Folau Niua slowed the play down before popping to Hughes coming at pace. The change from slow to fast flummoxed the Argenteians and Hughes was over for the final score.

From 0-14 to 26-14, the Eagles looked in control for the final eight minutes.

So that makes the Eagles 2-0 with Australia to come, and confirms a spot in the Cup Quarterfinals yet again. The USA team has made the top eight every tournament this year, seven times in a row, and since the South Africa tournament in late 2014, they have made the Cup Quarterfinals 13 times out of 14.

Here's the Bender tackle-and-poach that basically turned the game around: