Men’s Eagles 7s Beats Argentina at Sydney 7s

February 3, 2017

Men’s Eagles 7s Beats Argentina at Sydney 7s

Doug Coil

The USA Men’s Eagles Sevens faced Argentina in the opening match of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Sydney Sevens. The USA lead from start to finish, but Argentina pierced their defense after the match was in hand to narrow the final score to 22-19 to the USA.

With the win the USA will take on Canada at 8:58pm. The match is being streamed by worldrugby.org.

USA v Argentina

The Eagles struck first as Iosefo broke two tackles and offloaded to Stephen Tomasin for a try. Hughes converted and the Eagles led 7-0. The USA then increased their lead to 12-0 as Tomassin sold a dummy and that provided all the space that Danny Barrett needed to add a try.

The Eagles appeared to add another try, as Martin Iosefo broke down the touchline and offloaded to Perry Baker who was ruled to have knocked the ball as he attempted to ground it.

Just prior to halftime German Schultz found a gap on a double switch and was uncontested as he scored under the posts. The conversion was then added by Gaston Revol. At halftime the score was 12-7 to the USA.

Early during the second half, the USA had a scrum a midfield, Madison Hughes picked up the ball and attacked to the right of the scrum for a try and a 17-7 lead. On the restart, offloads from Baker to Niua to Barrett added another quick try and a 22-7 lead.

With the match apparently won, Argentina Matias Osadczuk took a tap 10 meters out and went in for a try. Revol made the conversion and it was 22-14. Argentina got the restart and Javier Barbier beat substitutes Pago Haini and Connor Wallace-Sims to score in the corner with no time on the clock. Despite Argentina’s attempt to ignore the kick, the referee would have no part of that and with the missed conversion attempt by Revol, the match ended in the Eagles favor 22-19.

Men’s Eagles Sevens – HSBC Wellington Sevens
1. Carlin Isles 2. Matai Leuta 3. Danny Barrett 4 Chris Coyle 5 Don Pati 6. Andrew Durutalo 7. Folau Niua 8. Connor Wallace-Sims 9. Stephen Tomasin 10. Madison Hughes (C) 11. Perry Baker 12. Martin Iosefo 13. Pago Haini

Starters: Tomasin, Barrett, Durutalo, Hughes, Iosefo, Niua, Baker