USA Secures Cup Quarterfinals Spot After Canada Sevens Win Over Scotland

The HSBC Canada Sevens is being held on March 7-8, 2020 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The USA Men’s Sevens finished fifth in Los Angeles after losing their Cup Quarterfinal to South Africa and claimed 13 points towards their Series standing. They are now ranked seventh overall with three stops until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The USA is in Pool D and will face the same opponents as they did in Los Angeles in Samoa, Scotland, and Australia. The original Series format will return for Vancouver with the top two teams in each pool advancing to the Cup Quarterfinals and the bottom two being placed in the consolation rounds.

The USA opened pool play with a 19-5 win over Samoa and defeated Scotland 28-12 and conclude pool play against Australia at 6:46 PM ET to determine the pool winner. The matches may be viewed in the U.S. on NBC Sports Gold.

The USA vs Scotland Recap

After a Scotland attack, Danny Barrett created a penalty at the breakdown. The USA used it as a platform to attack and following another Scotland penalty, Madison Hughes tapped and after a switch, Maka Unufe scored a try. Hughes then converted to lead 7-0.

Scotland had a couple of penalties and while the USA was inside Scotland’s 22-meters, they chose a scrum. Unufe went through the 9 channel and scored under the posts with Hughes slotting to lead 14-0 at the break.

Second Half

After the USA lost the ball into touch, Scotland used a quick lineout to attack with Kyle Rowe finishing and Gavin Lowe slotting the conversion to cut the lead to 14-7.

Madison Hughes fended and was off to the races to extend the lead to 21-7 after his conversion.

Scotland claimed the ensuing restart, however, the USA poached at the breakdown and Steve Tomasin scored a try, with Hughes adding the extras to lead 28-7.

Scotland’s Alec Coombes powered his way over the line, but Danny Barrett’s attempt to hold up the ball was ruled a try after a TMO for a final of 28-12.

This sets up a final pool match against Australia at 6:46 pm ET to determine the top two seeds in the pool. This was the same position that the USA found themselves at the LA Sevens, but lost 17-7 to Australia, which reversed the USA beating Australia at the Sydney Sevens.

Australia defeated Scotland in their opening Vancouver Sevens match 33-19 and then beat Samoa 40-12 . They will also advance to the Cup Quarterfinals as one of the top two pool seeds along with the USA.

USA: 1. Carlin Isles (Wing, 56) 2. Malon Al-Jiboori (Prop/Hooker, 9) 3. Danny Barrett (Prop, 53) 4. Maceo Brown (Center,13) 5. Cody Melphy (Halfback, 5) 6. Kevon Williams (Halfback/Wing, 26) 7. Naima Fuala’au (Halfback, 7) 8. Maka Unufe (Center, 42) 9. Stephen Tomasin (Hooker, 36) 10. Madison Hughes (C) Halfback, 51) 11. Perry Baker (Wing, 46) 12. Martin Iosefo (Center, 45) 13. Ben Broselle (Center, 6)

STAFF

Head Coach Mike Friday
Assistant Coach Anthony Roques
Strength & Conditioning John Hood
Performance Analyst Dave Gardner
Athletic Trainer Brian Green
Team Manager Scott Novack