The USA Men’s 7s team is into the Cup Quarterfinals at the Wellington 7s despite some iffy moments through Day One in New Zealand’s capital.

The guy who might well get credit for the USA’s position in the top eight could be Carlin Isles, who scored the game-winer against Samoa some minutes after the final hooter. Perry Baker staked the Eagles to a 12-0 lead against Samoa with two tries, the second being an interception. But the Samoans stormed back to make it 12-10. Zack Test’s try on a simole pick-and-go gave his side a two-score cushion at 19-10, but Samoa scored another try, and then opted for a penalty kick to take the lead 20-19. They might have thought time was up, but there was enough time for one more play, and the Eagles were patient and got Isles the ball in space for the 24-20 win.

The Eagles were working their way to the line, and Matai Leuta took contact and tried to offload to Isles. The ball was knocked away by the Samoans, but not controlled, and Isles was able to pick the ball up and step over the line. After some referee consultation, the try was given, and the Eagles were winners.

Then came England, and there the Eagles played very poorly. They missed tackles, they didn’t put England under pressure, and in the end only scored late in a 19-5 loss. 

According to Zack Test, Coach Mike Friday called the performance “embarrassing” and said the Eagles showed little heart or desire. Along with that, they made mistakes, and went into way too much contact. Samoa went on to beat England and showed how it should be done, staying out of the tackle when there’s not much on.

So the day came down to the final game. England finished 2-1 and were through. Samoa was 1-2. France and the USA entered the last game 1-1, and it looked to be France’s game early as Isles was pushed aside on the sideline allowing Steve Barry to go in under the posts. But the Americans fixed it after that, patiently working the ball to get Isles enough space for the wing to blaze to the corner from 75 meters out.

Then some good work from Danny Barrett forced a turnover, and the big forward then set up Madison Hughes for a try in the corner and a 10-7 USA lead.

With the first half almost over, France got a yellow card for throwing the ball away on a penalty, and Folau Niua hit Isles with a perfect pass to make it 15-7.

But the Eagles then threatened to give it right back. In the second half silly penalties from Thretton Palamo and Test allowed France to score and get the touchline conversion to make it a one-point game 15-14. The USA replied, though. From deep in their end, Perry Baker drew two defenders and worked a switch move with Barrett. The prop thundered on, fed Kevin Swiryin, who popped the ball to Test. And then Test sold a dummy and was in under the posts.

It was a crucial score, made more crucial by the successful conversion, meaning France needed to score twice to win.

Instead, it all fell apart for the French, and talismanic captain Terry Bouhraoua sustained a leg injury as he was running with the ball. While he was writhing on the ground, Swiryn nabbed the ball, worked it wide, and eventually it came back to the veteran for a try under the sticks. France scored at the hooter, but it was all done.

“We’re happy,” said Test after the game. “We dug real deep. It was a hard group, [but] we got better through the day.”

It was certainly not a complete performance, but enough to through in second place in Pool C. And two tries from Isles against France, and the game-winner against Samoa, certainly helped.