The introduction to senior sevens rugby for the USA Falcons wasn't gentle, as the American men's development group ended up 1-4 at the Punta del Este Sevens in Uruguay over the weekend.
The Falcons, coached by JD Stephenson and captained by capped Eagle (15s and sevens) Patrick Blair, lost all three of Saturday's pool games, beat Canada in Sunday's consolation series, and then lost to Columbia 21-5 to finish 10th in the first leg of the 2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens tournament.
"This tour provides a valuable learning experience and launching platform for our future Eagles, while ensuring that we are aligned with the structures that Mike [Friday] and his staff have put in place to allow for a seamless transition," Stephenson told USA Rugby.
"Although the match results aren't ideal, the playing and coaching group grew from the experience in Punta del Este and we are excited to put in a good week of training and a better team performance in Viña del Mar."
That's perhaps the best news for this trip — any slip-ups in the first tournament can be addressed in the second, the Viña del Mar Sevens in Chile on Jan. 13-14.
Watching from afar, USA men's sevens head coach Mike Friday said he expected a little better but figures the improvements will come.
"This is a mixture of developing players — five who are 19 and under — together with players who we feel could compete for selection to Australia and New Zealand but need game time," Friday said. "Disappointed in the results and how we played in Uruguay, but I am hopeful the boys learn from that tournament and apply themselves for week two."
Stephenson said the group didn't have a lot of time together, and that manifested itself in the play.
"It's always challenging arriving two days before playing, especially given the high quality of play and steep learning curb for players in their first sevens tour," Stephenson said.
Friday said those issues are easily addressed.
"They need to work hard on the basics of the game this week together with their defensive recognition at the breakdown so we can get our width and alignment, as currently we are honey-potting the breakdown and not finishing our chop tackles," he said.
USA Men's Falcons Roster
1. Pat Blair (c)
2. Nick Boyer
3. Ben Broselle
4. Alex Elkins
5. Naima Fualaau
6. Siale Maka
7. Anthony Salaber
8. Devin Short
9. Sam Walsh
10. Zach Webber
11. Connor Wallace-Sims
12. Anthony Welmers
2018 Punta Del Este 7s Results
POOL B
Uruguay 27, USA Falcons 12
Tries: Salaber, Maka
Convs: Fualaau
France 29, USA Falcons 5
Tries: Boyer
Brazil 29, USA Falcons 5
Tries: Broselle
CHALLENGE SEMIFINALS
USA Falcons 31, Canada 26
Tries: Welmers, Elkins, Walsh 2, Boyer
Convs: Walsh 3
CHALLENGE FINALS
Colombia 21, USA Falcons 5
Tries: Wallace-Sims
South Africa beat Chile 21-5 to win the Punta Del Este Sevens.