Two close games did not end the USA’s way as the Women’s Eagles team fell twice on Saturday to finish 4th at the Rugby World Cup 7s at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

After a really strong Day One where the USA won in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, the Eagles were up against it with New Zealand facing them in the semis.

In one of the best games of the weekend, the Eagles fell behind early thanks to the sublime Michaela Blyde. But finally the USA was able to find some room for Naya Tapper, and the wing blazed through for two quick tries and a 14-7 USA lead.

New Zealand replied, but really the issue was how well the Black Ferns handled the USA power runners. Gang tackling the American forwards, New Zealand was able to use pace and ball movement, and some iffy USA tackling, to score three more times to lead 26-14. The USA didn’t fold and put Lauren Doyle through the middle for one more, but there wasn’t enough time to make it any closer than 26-21. Six missed tackles out of 12 spelled disaster for the Americans.

So on to the 3rd-4th game against an Australia team upset by France.

The Eagles dominated possession and territory in the first four minutes, but a series of ill-advised decisions left them without any points.

A wide line by Ryan Carlyle ended with a forward pass (and a high tackle on Carlyle that wasn’t called). A stolen scrum allowed Nicole Heavirland to burst toward the line, but the USA was caught with white line fever, and while Abby Gustaitis went over for some cheers, the replay showed that she had dropped the ball. 

Australia, of course, then won the next scrum and went the distance to take a 7-0 lead.

Finally the constant pressure produced for the Eagles. Lauren Doyle made a run and when she was tackled high, Jordan Gray tapped and went quickly and the ball was shipped out to Naya Tapper.

Tapper stretch over wide on the right side, and then Heavirland slotted the conversion for a 7-7 tie at halftime.

Australia attacked right off the kickoff, had a potential, try called back for a forward pass, but soon thereafter ran a nice switch move to put over Cassandra Staples, and then another turnover in their own end led to a kick to the corner for Ella Green To chase and dive over.

Down 17-7, the Eagles needed something special, and Tapper provided it, skirting around the outside to outpace #3 and go in near the posts.

Heavirland converted and it was 17-14 for Australia with just over two minutes to go.

But the USA failed to win the restart and failed to guard the weak side, allowing Green to pick up and go down the sideline. Now it was 24-14.

More than a minute remained, but Australia did a masterful job of wasting time, and kept the ball long enough to finish the game.

So 4th for a USA team that lost one of its best players to injury in the buildup. But it’s a young USA team that learned a lot from this experience, including learning that it is just a small piece of the puzzle from being at the very top.