As things stand, Fiji are the best 7s team in the world and the U.S. found out exactly why as they lost to their Cup semi-final to the Pacific Islanders 19-5. Despite some stretches of solid possession and good defensive play it was the small mistakes from the Eagles that allowed Fiji the time and space they needed to punch in tries. The U.S. will now move on to the third place match against England or New Zealand.
The U.S. started the match with some possession but Fiji will let you keep possession and wait for you to make a mistake. That mistake came when they were able to disrupt the U.S. at the breakdown and create the turnover. From there it was just simple passing for Isake Katonibau to score. With the conversion Fiji held a 7-0 lead.
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Fiji kept pressuring after the try and nearly picked up another when they raced down the field after a stolen line out. However, Madison Hughes saved a try with a great turnover at the breakdown. After that the U.S. was able to put some solid phases and possession in Fiji territory but when Perry Baker got the ball out on the side he was put into touch . Still, the U.S. kept coming and when they earned a penalty they used the set play to spring Maka Unufe for the line break and then the offload to Hughes for the try. At the half the Eagles trailed 7-5.
Like the first half the U.S. had a very solid amount of possession to start the half but they knocked it on after going into contact. That allowed Fiji to march down the field and an backhanded offload found Amenoni Nasilasila for the try.
Carlin Isles had a couple of opportunities to breakdown and put the U.S. back in the match but both times he was corralled by the Fijian defense. On one of those efforts he spilled the ball forward which allowed Fiji to run in a great counterattack try to seal the match at 19-5.
Fiji are a very difficult team to beat and if you commit small errors they will punish you. Still, the U.S. were competitive in the match and they have to like the fact that if this were Rio they would have put themselves in a position to medal.
Starters: Leuta, Barrett, Durutalo, Niua, Unufe, Hughes, Baker