All season long the USA Men's 7s team has found success in putting full effort into the quarterfinal games, and that didn't change in Hong Kong.

This week wasn't the first week when the Eagles were imperfect in pool play, but a little luck and the fact they were close in two losses got them to a quarterfinal against South Africa. Having made the Cup Round, the Eagles know it's all to play for, and that attitude helped them defeat the Blitzbokke 21-12.

South Africa exploited a couple of missed tackles to score early and lead 7-0, but Carlin Isles, who was one of those falling off tackles, got some payback but exploding down the sideline to tie it up.

With time up in the first half, Isles worked his magic again, this time working a nice stop-start over and then an even better inside-out move to race 70 meters for a try and a 14-7 USA lead.

South Africa, of course, replied. Right at the beginning of the second half a couple of thunderous tackles jarred the ball loose and the rock was shipped quickly to Impi Visser who scored. Crucially, Matai Leuta chased well enough to keep Visser in the corner, and with the conversion missed, the USA still led 14-12.

The Eagles We Know

There then followed the best sequence of rugby the USA has shown in Hong Kong. First came a smart series of phase play, using every player and making sure the rucks were relatively clean. Finally Martin Iosefo made a small break and waited until just the right moment to feed the redoubtable Ben Pinkelman, who crashed over for the try. 

Madison Hughes was good on the conversion, and that was huge because it meant the USA was in front by two scores, and could use the clock to put pressure on South Africa. Folau Niua kicked deep and the Eagles played very effective and patient defense, making tackles and not trying to poach when the poach wasn't there.

The result was it took South Africa far too long to get anywhere, and when they did, Stephen Tomasin was quickly over the ball to force a holding-on penalty. That was it for South Africa; they didn't have enough time, committed another infraction, and then Tomasin kicked the ball to touch to end the game.

This victory has turned around the USA's Hong Kong 7s. It has the Eagles in the top four for the seven-straight tournament. It made sure that one of the two teams who could knock the USA out of the Olympic Qualifier spot will finish lower. And, it has guaranteed that the Americans will leave Hong Kong no worse than tied for 1st in the World Series standings.

Also, crucially, England has lost to Samoa 14-12, and England is the other team (along with South Africa), that has to bypass the USA (along with New Zealand and Fiji) to bump the Eagles out of the top four. That looks less and less likely with every event.

Notes: Isles continues to lead the World Series in tries, and now is nine clear of Dan Norton with 38. Hughes leads the series in points with 212. On Saturday he passed Fijian legend Waisale Serevi on the all-time points list, calling the experience "surreal" as he had grown up idolizing Serevi. 

Here's what he posted on social media:" Incredible honor to pass the legend @wserevi in World Sevens Series points. I remember watching highlight videos of ‘The King of Sevens’ before tournaments when I was young, and being in awe of how effortless he made the game look. In recent years I’ve been lucky enough to have met him and he’s one of the most humble, kind, and generous people I’ve ever met. All credit though is due to my teammates. They’re the ones who score those tries nicely between the posts to make the conversions easy!"

On Sunday, Hughes passed Samoan great Uale Mai and is now 9th all-time in points scored in the Sevens World Series. 

Isles is currently 10th all-time in tries, two behind Cecil Afrika of South Africa, and eight behind Perry Baker.