The USA Men's 7s team made history by making the Cup Final for the second tournament in a row, and because of that, the Eagles now sit in first place. That's right, first place in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

The Cape Town 7s didn't end the way the Eagles wanted. Fiji beat the USA 29-15, and it wasn't that close, but overall, the USA has been very impressive, beating England and New Zealand on day two to make the championship game.

USA 19 England 12

In the Cup Quarterfinals, England exposed a gap in the USA defense in the opening minute and took a 7-0 lead, but the USA replied with an astounding try. Folau Niua sent a grubber through. Martin Iosefo chased, got the ball and then offloaded to an onrushing Madison Hughes, who galloped the rest of the way for the score.

England looked to get that try back, but plays by Perry Baker and Niua stopped certain tries. The English did finally get over, but it took them all the rest of the half.

In the second half, the USA team went sideline to sideline and back before Danny Barrett bulldozed his way into the corner. Barrett then crashed through two tacklers under the posts to cap it off. He and Niua were hugely influential in this game.

The @HSBC_Sport Dream Team for the #CapeTown7s

Kalione Nasoko ??
Alosio Naduva ??@MadisonHughes15 ??@bookemshaaarkie ??
David Afamasaga ??
Sione Molia ??@speckmagic11 ?? pic.twitter.com/zFspdrl6yG

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 9, 2018

USA 31 New Zealand 12

In the semis, the Eagles did what they couldn't a week ago and dominated New Zealand. Barrett won the kickoff and Stephen Tomasin was over a couple of phases later. More pressure from the restart eventually led to Iosefo crashing over.

Then a superb score. Ben Pinkelman took off from within his 22 and did well to keep his arms free as he was tackled. He popped a perfect little pass to Barrett, who then rumbled the rest of the way, bashing down two New Zealand tacklers before soaring in to score.

As he has said before, when you try to tackle Barrett, you're going to get a shoulder, elbow, or knee.

"We worked so hard in that semifinal ... I think it's a mark of what we've put in through the entire offseason," Barrett said. "It's just a stepping stone for us ... we have done pretty well, but it's time to go home, lick our wounds and go at it again."

A long run from Hughes set up Baker in the corner to cap off a brilliant game.

Fiji 29 USA 15

This match was effectively won and lost in the last minute of the first half. Fiji led 5-0 after a long-range try by captain Kalione Nasoko, but the United States was on the attack before a loose pass was intercepted by Vilimoni Botitu, who ran unchallenged from deep inside his own half to score under the posts.

The woes for the Americans continued almost from the restart when Baker dropped the ball and provided an easy try for Sevuloni Mocenacagi to make it 17-0 at halftime.

Man of the match Botitu and Nasoko added further tries in an evenly-contested second half during which the United States scored crossed through Pinkelman, providing two powerful runs showing his fortitude, and Carlin Isles racing around the edge.

"We were disappointed last week when we didn’t perform to the level we did this week," said Fiji coach Gareth Baber, who hailed a "great effort" from his team.

So two second-place finishes put the USA on top of the standings after two events.

Notes: Barrett and Hughes made the tournament Dream Team, and certainly Niua and Tomasin had to be in consideration. Barrett also won the Order of Excellent award from sponsor UL.

Being No. 1 has its advantages. The Eagles will be the top seed in Pool B with England and Samoa and the 16th seed for the next World Series stop in Hamilton, New Zealand.

And a reminder that this season has Olympic ramifications. Finishing in the top four in the World Series means you get an automatic spot at Tokyo 2020. The USA has a long way to go but already is starting to see some daylight between No. 1 and No. 4 and No. 5.