Olympic rugby sevens continued into the Women’s competition on Thursday with the United States kicking off Pool C competition at Tokyo Stadium. Day one hosted two of three first round matches against China for their rugby sevens Olympic debut and host nation Japan. Team USA would sweep both matches and secure a quarterfinal spot, but at a closer margin than they would have hoped. 2016 Olympic champion, Australia, remain in pool play ahead of those knock-out rounds. That match will take place later tonight, Thursday, July 29 at 9:30PM ET on USA Network and NBCOlympics.com.
Match one in pool play saw the USA take on China. Ranked #5 and #13 respectively on the shortened 2020 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, the United States came into this match heavy favorites. China flipped that narrative in the early going as they would score the first try from Wang Wanyu, and immediately keep pressure on the ensuing restart. Looking to settle pace, the USA were able to lay down a few strong tackles, sway ownership of the match and force a penalty for the scrum. Kristen Thomas stepped in to capitalize and race for the try.
Leading into halftime both teams struggled to settle possession by trading turnovers. As the clock dwindled, China saw the 7-7 tie as a good place to be at the break and decided to kick out of bounds and whistle for halftime.
Ilona Maher noted on facing China, “”It wasn’t easy at all, so it just showed us that every team is going to bring it and don’t doubt any team. That was a little wakeup call we needed, to play when it’s time to go. Every team is going to bring it, so I think each game we’re going to bring it more and more and you’ll see us getting better and better.”
The difference maker would be debut Olympian and rising star Kristi Kirshe coming off the bench. Two minutes into the second seven minutes, China continued to keep the USA in check until a lost lineout led to a try from Kirshe on the right wing. A lethal combination of speed and force, Kirshe is not only fast in open space, but one of the more difficult players to tackle once she gets moving. She would add another try moments later after running pitch length up the middle and fending three tackles along the way. Keeping Kirshe active in space will be crucial to the USA podium chase. Game in hand, Lauren Doyle and Kayla Canett connected for a final try before China would also add one last consolation score. USA take their Tokyo opener, 28-14.
The second match was another close contest against Japan, who were seeking their first try of the tournament. Koide Mifuyu would give them just that at the end of the match, however it was all Eagles in the scoring column. Well balanced physically between both teams, with lots of play going back and forth around midfield, Ilona Maher drove in the first score with two highlight reel fends. Japan saw a few flashes of light against the favored Americans, one drive looking to find space on the left wing, but Kayla Canett reached out to intercept the offload, setting up a clean phase and Jordan Matyas try on the other end of the pitch. Japan again campaigned for the highlight reel with a kick and chase behind the USA defense, but Kristi Kirshe kept the ball in possession.
The USA would do well to retain the ball despite a few penalties and seal it with an Ariana Ramsey try up the middle. That would be her first try here in Tokyo, and first at the senior level as Ramsey still looks ahead to her HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series debut.
Head Coach Chris Brown noted on the two close matches. “Look, we got the results where we’re through to the quarterfinals, which is great, but we’re pretty frustrated with the performance we just put out there. Some of our squad had opportunities to really do their job, which was to score tries and go out there physically. They held back for the first seven minutes.”
Brown continued, “Two years ago, the men’s and the women’s sides were number two in the world. So we need to put a performance out there that people are excited to get into. I’m sure we’ll bounce back tomorrow and show that stronger.”
Up next, the USA will see significantly elevated competition with Australia, who also come into the match undefeated. The match will not determine advancement for either time, but will settle seeding as both head to the cup quarterfinal.
USA vs CHINA
TRIES » K. Thomas, K. Kirshe (2), K. Canett
CONVERSIONS » N. Heavirland (3/3), K. Canett (1/1)
USA vs JAPAN
TRIES » I. Maher, J. Matyas, A. Ramsey
CONVERSIONS » N. Heavirland (1/3)
