The USA Women’s 7s team just has to run out onto the field at the Biarritz 7s to clinch a spot in Tokyo 2020, taking one more step in a run of success for both the men’s and women’s programs that few could have foreseen a couple of years ago.

The Eagles need a single point to ensure that they don’t drop out of the top four for the Women’s Sevens World Series, which comes from finishing 12th in the 12-team event. But you have to show up to get that point.

Of course, the expectation is higher than that. 

Still Growing

“It’s been a year defined by a lot of personal growth and one could say learning how to win ugly in big matches,” said USA head coach Chris Brown, who took over from Richie Walker this year. “I’m adamant the fight we see from the group has developed from our players’ willingness to continually be vulnerable with each other. The level of enjoyment and compassion towards one another has increased significantly.”

Depth and continuity are important, too, and the depth is tested a little as Cheta Emba and Kasey McCravey come into the squad to replace Jordan Matyas and Meya Bizer, who both picked up injuries in the last tournament.

McCravey is still starting out, but Emba is an experienced forward who has skills in the air and in open field.

USA Roster And Pool

Abby Gustaitis, Naya Tapper, Alev Kelter, Kristen Thomas, Cheta Emba, Kasey McCravey, Nicole Heavirland, Nana Fa'avesi, Kayla Canett, Lauren Doyle (c), Kristi Kirshe, Ilona Maher, Stephanie Rovetti.

The Eagles will face China, Fiji, and hosts France in pool play.

Contact

This is a very physical team, but there’s a danger there, as the Eagles seem to go into a lot of contact. It’s a punishing form of sevens, and the toll ends being paid at the end of the tournament. Meanwhile, the Eagles are second in tackles made, meaning they force contact without the ball, too. That, too, can take it out of you in game six.

Teams that don’t go into much contact, make their first-up tackles (and so don't have to work so hard on defense), and who force turnovers  are fresher at the end.

Brown says it comes down to doing your job.

“The next step for us is to enhance the consistency in how we control matches. When this group is on the same page and they individually take ownership and execute, they’re hard to handle. I'm hopeful that taking comfort in doing the simple things well will enhance the performance we see across the whole weekend in Biarritz.”

Where We Stand

New Zealand has pretty much sewn up the World Series. The chase is on for the other top four spots. The USA is 2nd and can hold onto 2nd by being better than Canada. France has an outside chance of making the top four, and needs Australia to have a bad tournament (bottom four) to have a shot.

Top three in Glendale are top three in the Series.