The USA Women’s National Sevens team is in excellent position to get to the Cup Semis of the Dubai 7s after a 2-1 Day One in the United Arab Emirates.
Fresh off a 2nd-place finish in Glendale, the Eagles were just one score away from going 3-0, finishing pool play 2-1 with victories over China and Australia.
New Zealand, Canada, and England go through as pool winners with 3-0 records. The USA, France, and Ireland all finished 2nd with 2-1 records and go through. The two wild card teams are Australia and Russia.
? ? Welcome to the school of sevens.
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 29, 2018
Today's Lesson - The Tap Tackle Feat. Caroline Drouin
@FFRugby pic.twitter.com/C4Beuo0IEx
The USA started the day with a solid 31-0 shutout of China. Abby Gustaitis and Ilona Maher broke through for tries in the first half, but it was the second half where the Eagles pulled away, with Cheta Emba scoring two around a nifty try for Kristen Thomas set up by newcomer Ashlee Byrge.
Next up was England, and Emba got the Eagles going early. Abigail Brown answered for England and in the second half Naya Tapper opened here account to give the USA a 12-7 lead.
But the game wasn’t over, and as full time approached, England’s Amy Wilson Hardy’s try tied it up, and Natasha Hunt won it for England 14-12.
Still in with a shot at the quarterfinals, but really needing a win or a tie, the Eagles faced off with 2017-18 World Series champions Australia.
This was another back-and-forth one. Thomas scored in the opening minute, and that try held up until the second half, when Dominique Du Toit scored for Australia to make it 7-5 USA. Immediately the Eagles replied, with Maher charging over. She scored again moments later and it was 17-5. But Australia scored two in quick succession to tie it up 17-17. That set the stage for Cheta Emba.
Australia had the ball with time up, and a chance to win the game and push the USA down to third. But Emba made a stop, held the ballcarrier up, and ripped the ball free. She spun, and found no one in front of her, and took off, 65 meters to the corner to end the game and give the Eagles the 22-17 win.
RE:LIVE: Incredible last minute try from @USARugby's Cheta Emba, as they beat Australia in the pool stages of the #Dubai7s pic.twitter.com/wU9rzCUUIs
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 29, 2018
“It was a team effort,” said USA co-captain Nicole Heavirland. “Everyone’s got a hand in it and when we work together that’s when we play the best.”
New Zealand beat Kenya and Russia, and had to work for it against an improved Ireland side to win 24-17, to win Pool A. England dispatched Australia 26-12 and China 38-0 to cap off a superb Day One in Pool B. Canada survived a plucky France, and crushed Fiji and Spain to go 3-0.
The USA will face France, a team the Eagles beat on the last play in Glendale.
