Fiji defeated the USA 21-14 in the semifinals of the USA 7s in Las Vegas, taking advantage of a series of uncharacteristic USA mistakes.

Fiji opened the scoring after the opening kickoff by Folau Niua didn’t go ten meters. Playing the game in the wind and rain, Fiji decided to pop the ball in short passes and run up the middle. The USA ran out of tacklers, and Jasa Veremalua was in under the posts.

The Eagles replied, but it took them a while. Almost every player received a pass during the attack except for speedster Carlin Isles. It seemed almost as if the US players were avoiding him on purpose. Still, eventually Danny Barrett sidestepped two Fijians as if he was Fijian himself, and ran in under the posts. That made it 7-7, and the USA had an excellent opportunity to make take the lead. Martin Iosefo summarily dragged a Fijian player into touch to earn a lineout, but the throw-in by Niua was slightly off-line and Zach Test couldn’t handle it. Fiji got it, passed to the wing, and Vatema Ravouvou raced in at the corner. He also kicked the conversion from the sideline, and Fiji led 14-7.

USA Coach Mike Friday told his players to settle down and keep their shape, but the message might also have been to keep the ball. Three four crucial knock-ons in the second half killed the USA’s chances for a win.

Knock-on #1 came from the kickoff. Fiji kicked the ball to touch, and from the lineout Test had the ball but couldn’t control it, giving Fiji a chance to attack. The USA somehow got the ball back and Fiji was penalized for a deliberate knock-on, and then a yellow card for throwing the ball award. Madison Hughes broke free up the middle, but after the Eagles recycled an poorly-controlled pass from Barrett led to a knock-on by Iosefo, a counter by Fiji, and some razzle-dazzle as Pio Tuwai finished off the movement. 21-7 Fiji then, but the USA wasn’t done. With the ball inside the Fiji 22, Test dropped a perfectly acceptable pass, which killed a scoring chance. Later, he fumbled the ball at the base of tha ruck - all uncharacteristic mistakes for one of the USA’s greatest-ever 7s players.

Finally, a fast guy got the ball, and Perry Baker made use of it, racing back inside to score. He had the presence of ind to run quickly and touch down quickly, so the USA had time for one more kickoff. But Niua’s kick was low and flat and straight to a Fijian. Kick to touch, end of game.

The Eagles showed they can play, and they handled the big, physical Fiji team well enough, but their errors of commission and errors of mentality - mostly not passing to Isles or Baker more than once each - cost them a spot in the final.

USA 14

Tries: Barrett, Baker

Convs: Hughes 2

Fiji 21

Tries: Veremalu, Ravouvou, Tuwai 

Convs: Ravouvou 2, Kolinisau