The USA Men's Sevens team won the USA 7s in Las Vegas for the second time in a row, securing sole possession of 1st place in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens World Series, and also discarding the bridesmaid's veil that they'd been carrying around all season.

After four straight second-place finishes, the Eagles sealed the deal, and did it in style, defeating New Zealand in the semis 24-19, and then dismantling Samoa 27-0 in the championship game.

As was the case in London in 2015, and in Las Vegas in 2018, the USA won the tournament without a key player. In fact, they finished it off without arguably their two best players. In 2015, the Eagles took the London 7s despite Zack Test being injured. Last year in Las Vegas it was Madison Hughes who was unable to play.

This year, the USA entered the tournament without Perry Baker, recovering from a broken jaw, and lost Danny Barrett to a nasty arm injury during Day Two. 

They beat New Zealand and Samoa with Barrett on the sidelines.

The game against New Zealand started for the All Blacks 7s, but really patient play from the USA worked the ball back and forth before Stephen Tomasin drew the final two defenders and set up Folau Niua.

New Zealand replied, but Carlin Isles scored two quick tries after that. One was after a long period of possession with Martin Iosefo and Ben Pinkelman instrumental. Isles then just picked up and scampered over. The USA speedster then added a classic open field run for his second, and won the game at the death with another pick-and-go, after which he leapt skyward to the delight of the crowd.

But it wasn't just about Isles. Players like Tomasin and Hughes, and especially Matai Leuta—brought in to play Barrett's role—were crucial.

In the final, despite the fact that Niua's first two kickoffs were off-target (one too short, one too long), the USA defense was superb, and the attack patient and brutal. Isles hardly touched the ball in the first 12 minutes. He didn't need to, as it was Martin Iosefo up the middle and Pinkelman as well who led the charge.

Pinkelman powered over for an early try, and then Lauta capped off a snappy movement and took a pass from Iosefo to score. Hughes started the second half coming quickly in support of Tomasin, whose offload was perfect, and the skipper was in under the posts.

Pinkelman then backed up some good work from Isles to charge through for his second. With time up, Maceo Brown capped it off.

But it was clearly a team win. Isles will be happy leading the tournament with eight tries, but should be happier with his work winning rucks. Pinkelman was MVP of the final, but Iosefo was in his element and at his brutal best. Leuta filled in for Barrett brilliantly.

The upshot? The Eagles can tell New Zealand's Kurt Baker to put his fingers in his pocket. The United States is for real, and in excellent position to not only garner automatic qualification to the 2020 Olympics, but maybe to win the entire series. 

It would take a huge improvement in fortunes for South Africa and England, and a massive dropooff for the USA, for the Eagles not to stay in the top four (Olympic qualification territory). It's such a secure position they should be thinking only about the championship now.