The USA men’s 7s team is in the Cup Quarterfinals after crushing Japan and staying alive against Portugal.

The Eagles did what was expected, beating two of the less strong teams on the Sevens World Series circuit, and against Japan they looked just like a top team taking apart a team they should take apart. 

Zack Test, playing in his 50th IRB tournament, started it off with a nice try as he pushed off two tacklers to score in the corner. Andrew Durutalo then gathered the ball which Test knocked back off the restart, and he was in. Carlin Isles tiptoed down the sideline for another, and then Isles scored on the other corner to make it USA 26 Japan 0 at halftime.

Madison Hughes sniped weak side, Danny Barrett capped off a movement started by Garrett Bender, and then Bender intercepted a ball to make it 47-0. Then japan scored twice before Maka Unufe finished it off 52-12.

But in second game of the evening, before a very strong Friday night crowd, the Eagles played less well. They went into a lot of contact against a hard-nosed Portugal team, and stopped passing. Barrett scored early and Portugal replied to make it 5-7. After a long period of play where they kept committing (or, more accurately, being called for) penalties, and during which they also kept losing the ball at crucial moments, the Eagles got the go-ahead try when Unufe burst through a fractured defense, drew the last man, and dished to Perry Baker for the try.

Unufe has been in very good form for the USA and his desire to distribute was obvious on that play.

A nifty pass from Durutalo to Test for a try in the second half finished it off 19-7. But, it wasn’t pretty, and Head Coach Mike Friday was unimpressed.

“It’s job done, but it was a little bit frustrating,” said Friday. “We had a little bit of people going off on their own agenda. I won’t tolerate [that]. We’re a team first and we’re not having that sort of individual, being candid, lunacy.”

Friday didn’t mention names but Barrett was sin-binned needlessly late in the game, and several players, including Test and Folau Niua, were guilt of not passing to open players or, in Niua’s case, hoisting a high chip kick that was not needed at all. 

“That will be stamped out this evening,” said Friday, who also voiced ire at referees not allowing his team to poach in the ruck.

The Eagles did get into a tackle contest with Portugal, but that, said Friday, was as much about the 59-meter-wide pitch than anything else.

“The pitch actually suits Portugal,” he said. “We have to be accurate in the breakdown, but also the interpretations have to be consistent. Once the tackler has released the tackled player, the tackled player must release the ball.”

In fact, Portugal got away with their tackled players getting back up on their feet despite being held in the tackle, and there was no call.

“If that’s not being picked up, then it plays into the hands of a Portuguese side that’s got a fantastic work ethic and they also like to create chaos. But realistically we probably should have scored a couple more tries.”

But, the Eagles are 2-0, and have guaranteed a spot in the Quarterfinals as Japan and Portugal are both 0-2. The USA plays 2-0 South Africa tomorrow, and, said Friday, “have got it all to play for.”

 

Pool C USA 7s

Team W-L PF-PA

South Africa 2-0 61-5

USA 2-0 71-19

Portugal 0-2 7-38

Japan 0-2 17-94

 

Some stats:

Tackles Made

USA 41 Opponents 28

 

Tackles Missed

USA 14 Opponents 15

 

Possession Given Away

USA 20 Opponents 19

 

Errors

USA 7 Opponents 3

 

Penalties Conceded

USA 8 Opponents 10

 

Scrums/Lineouts Won/Loss on Own Put-in

USA 4/2  Opponents 5/1

 

Completed Passes

USA 45 Opponents 55