The USA Men’s 7s team is now 8th in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

And while the coveted top four spot, which would mean automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics, is probably out of reach, 6th place is not, and that would be easily the best finish for the Eagles in the World Series. 

Perhaps that’s getting ahead of things as we’re only four tournaments done in a nine-tournament season. Still, the Eagles have already eclipsed their World Series points total from last season, and Head Coach Mike Friday is rightfully happy with how things are going. He can look at the losses to South Africa, Fiji, and, most galling of all, Scotland, and conclude that the USA might have finished even higher in Wellington, but still there’s reason to be positive.

“In terms of just the result and the points we achieved I am disappointed, as I thought we were better than the outcome we achieved,” said Friday. We deserved more but this game is harsh and sometimes you don't get what you deserve.”

And it’s true that the USA was somewhat unlucky, including giving up a try to South Africa on what looked like a forward pass, or losing possession and a penalty against Scotland for a third man into an altercation that could have been called very differently, or having the winning try against Fiji called back for a forward pass that was probably more marginal than the South Africa effort.

Friday sees this and figures that the luck (and some of the calls) will bounce a different way later on … maybe in Las Vegas.

 “I am very pleased with the overall progress with the squad,” said the USA coach. “They are earning the respect of the other teams on the Series and we are being recognized as competitors now, not participators. We showed some real work ethic and accuracy across the weekend and at times were truly clinical and ruthless in execution.” 

They took apart France, had Scotland on the ropes for ten minutes.

“All very pleasing considering where we were as a squad six months ago, and culturally the boys have come a long way. We have things to work on, and that last 60 seconds against Scotland was hugely disappointing for all of us and highlighted how brutal the game of 7s can be if you do not play for the entire 14 minutes.”

But it was a useful lesson, and could have been more costly, but it was still not a particularly fun lesson to learn.

USA Players Despondent Sometimes the lessons isn't a nice one. Scotland wins at the death against the USA after the Eagles led 15-0 with four minutes to go. Martin Seras Lima photo.

“If the boys have learned from that experience, in the long term it will be hugely beneficial,” Friday said, adding that, all things considered, “I would rather we all encourage and support the boys who have grown so much individually and collectively as a squad over the last six months and encourage them to learn the lessons along this journey. There will always be bumps in the road and it's how they grow from those that counts. The boys are fully aware of what we need to do better this week as a group and individually but it is more the little things and ensuring they stay on task even if the pressure comes on! Only then we will know that they are now habits which will bring increased consistency to allow them to express their individual talents as a team and for the team.”

There are five tournaments left in the season, with Las Vegas being the mid-point. The Eagles have a fairly easy pool and should come out in the Cup Quarterfinals, which will give them close to 50 points for the season so far. If that enough to have them thinking about moving up? Maybe, but first, perhaps it’s time to just secure where they are now.