But against New Zealand in pool play the USA was out-muscled and forced into errors that led to Black Ferns tries. It was almost all New Zealand, 31-0.
Still, they were 2nd in their pool and into the semifinals against Australia. This game was a tough one because the Aussies got a little bit of the rub of the green in some calls. Australia certainly was allowed to dive right onto the ball when they set a ruck, allowing no chance for a USA poach.
Instead, it was the USA that got penalized for not rolling, something that was technically true but referees do usually recognize when a team on attack holds a tackler in the tackle.
Australia was also guilty of a knock-on that nine times out of 10 would be an intentional knock and a yellow card. Not this time. Another 50-50 call with the USA on attack led to an Australia try, and while the Eagles need to do better in containing the outside, and need to bump wide more efficiently, they also weren't given any favors.
At 14-0 the USA was working the offloads but an interception turned that right around. That hurt.
Bad luck aside, the USA is not leveraging its possession time against the stronger teams. Their passes are to the player, not for the player, and so the ball might go through three passes out to the wing, but no interior player is moving forward and making the defenders worried.
As a result a better team can negate the USA's speed.
That led to the 3rd-4th match, and that is, physically and emotionally, a very difficult game for a young team. Rebounding from a semifinal loss to win again is a learned skill.
They started poorly against France. The kickoff didn't go 10 meters and the French scored right off that free kick. The were burned again out wide as the Eagles were a bit slow to react to the French offloads.
But they responded with Cassidy Bargell—called up to Perth because of an injury—working hard in support. In the second half Adegoke picked up off a ruck and made about 26 meters before laying the ball back for Sullivan to charge in, pick up, and finish from about 38.
That tied it up 14-14. But when Ramsey was tackled in isolation her teammates were a step too late to help her out. Turnover for France and they spun it wide to score. The Eagles had the ball and time to do something, but France's physicality at the breakdown forced the turnover and ended the game.
With France it's those little things. Against Australia and eventual champs New Zealand (who look very strong), it's a combination of little and big things.
Finishing 4th was big, however, and the Eagles now, with a series of consistent finishes (5th, 4th, 4th, 4th) they are actually, overall, in third.
