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The USA finished the the year in their highest ever spot on the World Rugby Rankings in the 15-a-side game, and now the Men’s Eagles Sevens have followed suit. Despite dropping the Cup Final to Fiji at the Cape Town Sevens, the second overall finish vaults the Eagles into first place overall on the HSBC Sevens Series – the first time they have reached the top of the table.
Two tries from Danny Barrett lifted the team over England in the Quarter Final, and it was Barrett again who caught the headlines with bulldozing try against New Zealand in a surprisingly one-sided Semi Final. It seemed fatigue caught up with the Eagles in the Final, with Fiji putting them to the sword in convincing fashion by a score of 29-15.
The USA’s ranking, however, had already been determined in the Bronze Final. With New Zealand losing to hosts South Africa it guaranteed the USA would close out 2018 as the highest-ranked men’s sevens team in the world. They now enjoy a nine point lead over 5th-ranked South Africa in the race for automatic Olympic qualification.
Argentina were the class of the consolation draw, winning all three of their matches to lift the Challenge Trophy. Their 9th-place finish maintains the 8th overall spot they secured in Dubai.
Canada’s tournament would end against Argentina in the Trophy Semi Final after they edged Zimbabwe in their first match of the day, Pat Kay’s conversions proving the difference. Kay had also assumed the captaincy after Nathan Hirayama was injured and forced out of the tournament.
The series now takes a break with the next stop coming in Hamilton, New Zealand, on January 26.
DAY TWO RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Samoa 31-26 Wales
France 31-0 Japan
Canada 28-24 Zimbabwe
Argentina 34-31 Kenya
CUP QUARTER FINALS
South Africa 21-12 Scotland
Fiji 46-7 Spain
Australia 17-26 New Zealand
USA 19-12 England
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Wales 28-7 Japan
Zimbabwe 19-31 Kenya
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Samoa 31-7 France
Canada 14-24 Argentina
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Scotland 7-12 Spain
Australia 21-24 England
CUP SEMI FINALS
South Africa 12-17 Fiji
New Zealand 12-31 USA
13th PLACE FINAL
Wales 26-33 Kenya
TROPHY FINAL
Samoa 14-38 Argentina
5th PLACE FINAL
Spain 7-14 England
BRONZE FINAL
South Africa 10-5 New Zealand
CUP FINAL
Fiji 29-15 USA
