The USA Men’s National 7s team put together some good performances and some iffy performances at the Sydney 7s, and ultimately finished 6th in Australia.

The Eagles beat Argentina and Canada on Day One in one of the tougher pools of the tournament, but then lost to a Russian team they really should have beaten.

In the Cup Round on Day Two, but feeling the loss of Perry Baker, who was injured early on Day One, they lost to South Africa, beat Wales, and then lost to Fiji in what used to be called the Plate Final.

Only in that last game were they truly outmatched - in the first five games their tries scored to allowed rations were: 4 to 3, 5 to 3, 2 to 3, 2 to 3, and 3 to 2. In the Fiji game, they scored two and lost seven.

Over the weekend, Danny Barrett was very strong throughout the weekend, making big tackles, scoring open-field tries, setting up tries, and powering over defenders. He made the tournament Dream Team, and deservedly so. (See one of his better tries here https://youtu.be/5hLzwEFdyzA?t=2m12s)

Folau Niua continues to make some good players, and has been especially strong in the breakdowns.  Forced into a starting position after Baker’s injury, Carlin Isles scored five tries and did everything he could to show he deserves more minutes. Stephen Tomasin has been getting better and better, and his passing in open play has impressed.

We have analytical stats on these games produced for us by Matt Trenary at http://trenarian.com. Here are the specific games:

USA 22 Argentina 19
Tries: Hughes, Barrett 2, Tomasin / Convs: Hughes 
Analysis from Trenarian.com

USA 31 Canada 19
Tries: Durutalo, Hughes, Barrett, Pati, Iosefo / Convs: Hughes 3
Analysis from Trenarian.com

USA 14 Russia 17
Tries: Isles 2 / Convs: Tomasin 2
Analysis from Trenarian.com

USA 10 South Africa 21
Tries: Isles, Tomasin 
Analysis from Trenarian.com

USA 19 Wales 10
Tries: Isles 2, Iosefo / Convs: Hughes 2
Analysis from Trenarian.com

USA 12 Fiji 35
Tries: Barrett, Tomasin / Convs: Hughes
Analysis from Trenarian.com

Overall Sydney 7s stats and analysis. 
   

The key issue for the Eagles against Russia was too many errors with the ball in hand and you can see that in the stats.