Canada defeated the USA 29-21 Saturday in Guadalajara to win Pool B of the Pan-Am Games Rugby 7s competition, but the USA has plenty to feel positive about coming out of a game where, considering the previous scores of the day, they might have expected a bit of a drubbing.

In fact, the Eagles led 14-10 at halftime, and showed better defense and some smart attacking acumen – only a couple of silly errors meant that the game ended in Canada’s favor.

The Eagles started the game on the front foot, but after a series of phases they turned the ball over in the ruck. Canada’s Sean Duke saw that no one was home in the backfield and booted the ball downfield. Mark Bokhoven gave chase, but Duke won.

However the Eagles stormed right back. Working out of their own end Folau Niua made a half break and saw his passing laned blocked. The flyhalf put a nifty grubber ahead for Mile Pulu, who gathered the bouncing ball on the run and went in under the posts. Niua’s kick was easy and the USA led 7-5.

Soon it was 14-5. The Eagles won the restart, worked it right, and then worked it left where Maka Unufe burst through almost to the line. From the ground he offloaded to Niua, who scored his first try in a USA jersey.

Canada exploited a hole in the USA defense for Nathan Hirayama to break through. He was caught just short of the line, but Ciaran Hearn was there to score in the corner.

The second half started with the USA receiving the ball, but suddenly their ability to control the balls kicked to them left them. Canada retained the kick and Phil Mack sliced through for a try.

Then on the next restart, the ball didn’t go ten meters. However, the USA’s Blaine Scully opted to take the ball anyway. He dropped it, so instead of a free kick for the USA at midfield, Canada had a turnover, and they quickly scored.

“Our standard is that if it’s not ten, let it drop and take the free kick,” said USA Head Coach Al Caravelli. “But players are told that if they feel they can take it cleanly, then do it. Had Blaine made that catch he would have been able to keep running and everyone would have said ‘what a great decision.’”

Still, it stung, and the next restart once again fell to Canadian hands and quickly to Nanyak Dala, who scored to make it 29-14.

Even the next restart the USA couldn’t gather, but they earned a scrum near their own line. From there they got a free kick and started their way forward, with some excellent ball movement resulting in Mark Bokhoven rounding in under the posts.

The positives

“We weren’t tackling the first two games,” said Caravelli of his players. “They had to get back to the fundamentals; put your shoulder into them, and drive your legs. They did that this game.”

The Eagles were hurt all through Day One by not having enough ball. They were far and away the fastest team, and the players were superbly unselfish with the ball. Maka Unufe was the beneficiary of much of that largesse.

“It’s a team thing,” Unufe said. “It’s what everyone has done to get me to score. But, yeah, we feel like we can always score.”

“We haven’t gotten much ball,” added Caravelli. “We need to fix that tomorrow. We need to clean up some of our defensive assignments. In the first two games we did some things we’ve never done before.”

USA 21
Tries: Pulu, Niua, Bokhoven
Convs: Niua

Canada 29
Tries: Duke 2, Hearn, Mack, Dala
Convs: Hirayama 2

The USA is 1-1-1 having beaten Chile 14-7 and tied Brazil 19-19. Brazil also ended 1-1-1 however lose out on 2nd place in the pool due to points difference. So Pool B ends up:
1. Canada
2. USA
3. Brazil
4. Chile

The USA, then, will face either Guyana or Mexico in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Navy beat Notre Dame 28-21 in a friendly Friday night in South Ben, Ind., the second Friday night match against a service academy for the Fighting Irish this season, as they fell to Air Force two weeks prior.

Within the first 5 minutes the first ‘high tackle’ was recorded, leading to a Navy sin bin. The Irish were quick to capitalize on the lack of numbers in the setpiece, driving a scrum 10 meters into the try zone, where No. 8 Ryan Robinson picked up the ball and touched it down. Byron Henry made the conversion to put the Irish up 7-0.

After more phase play and a multitude of tactical kicking by both flyhalves, Navy saw their first break come on a turned scrum. The Navy No. 8 picked up the ball and made a quick dish to the oncoming scrumhalf, who then made an offload to keep the ball inbounds. After a couple of picks, the forwards powered over the line. The conversion was made and the game was tied at 7s going into halftime.

Navy maintained momentum through intermission, and after a couple of line breaks, the Midshipmen were banging on the door of the Irish try zone. They were momentarily kept out by a handling error, however they managed to win the opposing scrum and Navy’s No. 8 picked from the set piece and scored. The conversion was made – Midshipmen 14-7.

Fueled by another line break, the Midshipmen showcased their passing skills and worked the ball deep into Irish territory. When the Irish finally settled into their defense, it was too late; a couple of picks by the forwards put the ball over the line. They converted, and the Midshipmen were up 21-7.

With about 10 minutes to play in the game, the momentum began to shift again and the Irish realized the urgency at hand. After a few sloppy penalties, the Irish were inside the Navy 22. Reserve flyhalf Chris Pesigan skipped a ball to outside center Ryan Mitchell, who ran to within Navy’s 5 meter-line. Winger Rob Mungia was the first to the ensuing ruck and picked the ball and dove over the line to bring the Irish to within one score. Pesigan hit the conversion to draw the Irish within 7 at 21-14.  

After another yellow card left the Midshipmen’s numbers lacking, Pesigan skipped the ball again to Mitchell, who made a quick pass to fullback David Penberthy, who beat the last man and went into the try zone. Pesigan converted the try, and the score was tied 21-21 with five minutes left to play.

The comeback was not completed, however. Like in their game against Air Force, the Irish found themselves on the defensive for the remaining five minutes of the half. In a valiant stand, the Irish defense held, until the closing moments of the match, when a Navy forward picked the ball of a ruck and dove in. Final time blew as the Midshipmen closed out their victory 28-21.