April 9, 2016
USA Women’s Eagles 7s Lose to Australia in Atlanta 7s Cup Quarterfinal
Doug Coil
There was a great deal of speculation of how the USA Women’s Eagles Sevens team would play with a coaching change a couple of weeks ago. Jules McCoy is a good coach and Richie Walker is proving to also be. Walker has been effective with his substitutions with the team going undefeated in pool play.
The USA won pool matches against Spain, Japan and New Zealand in the process. The win against the later, was the second win ever against New Zealand. That in turn sets up a Cup Quarterfinal match against Australia, who currently leads the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series standings. Australia enters as the second seed from Pool A by virtue of their loss to England.
USA v Australia
Maybe it wasn’t a good omen when the opening restart by Bui Baravilala didn’t go 10. Australia tapped at midfield and an Emily Cherry dummy and offload to Emma Tonegato resulted in a try in the corner for a 5-0 lead. Meya Bizer was down at the time on a tackle.
Shortly later Tonegato sped down the wing after a penalty tap for her second try. She has been a try machine for Australia throughout the Atlanta Sevens. The conversion was good and Australia increased their lead to 12-0.
Australia was dominant in their defense throughout the match. The USA finally had their best attack of the match with no time remaining in the half. Multiple phases of moving the ball for side to side thrilled the crowd, but ended without points for the Eagles prior to halftime. Australia held a 12-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Emily Cherry take kick deep on the restart with the ball bouncing into touch. Australia then won the lineout on an overthrow by the Eagles and Emily Cherry split two Eagles defenders for a try. The lead was now 17-0.
The USA made a couple of substitutions bring on Javalet and Kelter. The Eagles quickly moved the ball to Javalet on the wing, but Australia defended well.
Dominique Du Toit then added to Australia’s total as she sped down the wind and cut inside Javalet for a try near the corner.
The Eagles finally were able to get on the scoreboard offloading the ball to Javalet who took the ball on a burst and left all defenders in the dust. Although the Eagles would have another attack shortly later, the match ended with the Eagles 5 and Australia 22.
The Eagles will move to the Plate Semi-finals against Fiji.
With the matches being played in the United States, the matches have been geoblocked in the USA, but the matches are available on the new The Rugby Channel. Subscriptions are available and the video is excellent.
Keep up with the Atlanta Sevens action by viewing the results at World Rugby. Results Twitter: Atlanta Sevens World Rugby Sevens
Women’s Eagles Sevens | HSBC Atlanta Sevens
1. Jillion Potter (C) 2. Megan Bonny 3. Kate Zackary 4. Meya Bizer 5. Ryan Carlyle 6. Nicole Heavirland 7. Alev Kelter 8. Bui Baravilala 9. Lauren Doyle 10. Richelle Stephens 11. Kristen Thomas 12. Jessica Javelet Coach: Richie Walker
USA Starters v Australia: Jill Potter (c), Bui Baravilala, Megan Bonny, Nicole Heavirland, Lauren Doyle, Kristen Thomas, Meya Bizer
- Recap v Spain W 24-0
- Recap v Japan W 33-12
- Recap v. New Zealand – W 12-5
- v Australia – Cup QF L 5-22
