The USA kicked off the Cape Town 7s, the third stop on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, with a shutout win over Ireland in Pool C play. The Eagles will play England, which dropped a 38-0 contest to Australia, at 2:07 a.m. Saturday.
The Americans led the previous stop,Dubai, in restart retention but that trend didn’t continue is South Africa. But the USA defense did well to force Ireland mistakes and Naya Tapper was particularly successful in getting over the ball quickly and drawing not-releasing penalties. The result was a 28-0 halftime lead, a dominance that continued through the second half.
The USA handed over its first attacking campaign with a knock-on to hand Ireland the scrum. But it wasn’t long until the Irish offered possession, as Alev Kelter recovered a loose ball out of the tackle and then connected with Eti Haungatau for a break up the middle. A high tackle on Kelter set up a kick to touch and five-meter lineout, one that Kristen Thomas corralled in the air and nearly took into the try zone. The ball recycled to Kelter and a little cut back against Hannah Tyrrell put the center underneath the posts. Nicole Heavirland added the extras, 7-0.
The USA knocked on the restart and Ireland regrouped with a scrum on its 40 meter. Tapper got her hands on the ball in the tackle and drew the first of two not-releasing penalties, and then tapped quickly from the mark before offloading to Thomas. The recycle moved through Tapper then Haungatau and finally Kelter on the edge for the try, 14-0 with Kelter’s conversion.
Ireland kept the restart but Tapper’s aggression off the ruck forced a knock-on. Scrumhalf Heavirland peeled on the scrum before connecting with Tapper and then Thomas, and then it got scrappy as the ball hit the deck. Tapper came up with it and quickly popped to Haungatau, who dummied past the defense and then palmed off one pursuer for the try, 21-0 with Kelter’s extras.
The clock was in extra time as the restart set up. Abby Gustaitis attempted an airborne steal, but the ball hit the ground, and Lauren Doyle burst onto the second bounce for the uncontested, fast try that Heavirland converted: 28-0.
Ireland got its best opportunity after the second-half kickoff. A high tackle set up a kick to touch and attacking lineout, one that works wide and collides with Tapper, who had her back turned while tracking the wing. Ireland retained the ball and eventually saw Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe pick off the ruck for a big break that should have been a try if it wasn’t for Thomas’ cover tackle. Ilona Maher then halted Kathy Baker’s run at the line and the final pass knocked on for the turnover.
The USA returned possession, however, as the five-meter scrum went back to Doyle in the try zone, and an unforced knock-on followed. Ultimately, the Irish hurt themselves, as the pass out the scrum to the flyhalf hit the ground and rolled backward, allowing Tapper to swarm and draw another not-releasing. The wing went quick from the mark, angled around Baker, and had *just* enough gas to beat Megan Burns for the long-range try, 33-0. Tapper and Kelter lead the USA’s all-time tries scored list with 83 apiece.
The Eagles lost their restart without even kicking off as the clock ran out, but another not-releasing penalty near midway put the ball back in the Americans’ hands. A series of good carries and connections between Jordan Matyas and Kristi Kirshe, and good ball movement to Ilona Maher and Kasey McCravey out wide set up another penalty drive to the two meter. Kirshe sent the final pass from the ruck to Gustaitis for the dive-over try in close, 38-0.
USA Starters: Lauren Doyle, Abby Gustaitis, Eti Hangatau, Nicole Heavirland, Alev Kelter, Naya Tapper, Kristen Thomas.
USA 38
Tries: Kelter 2, Tapper, Haungatau, Gustaitis, Doyle
Cons: Kelter 2, Heavirland 2
IRELAND 0