Being brought down to Earth is no fun.

Saturday night was a time of some small measure of euphoria for USA fans, and the players at the USA 7s. The Eagles were in the Cup Semis, and they could win the tournament.

They didn’t. And in fact finished Sunday 0-2 after going 3-0-1 in the first two days. After being so smooth, they were loose with the ball. After executing on lineouts and key set plays, they gave up possession. And after being able to use their speedsters all season, they found those players frustratingly without the space to move.

It wasn’t all bad, to be sure, and the games were competitive in a fashion, but the Eagles found they haven’t arrived quite yet. After losing 26-12 to New Zealand in the semis, the United States lost 31-0 to South Africa in the 3rd/4th game.

After the USA received the opening kickoff, they promptly lost the ball and the Blitzbokke worked carefully through the phases. Carlin Isles (Correction - Perry Baker) put in two impressive tackles in the sequence, but a penalty for killing the ball by USA didn’t help.

After that, Madison Hughes was off on a nice breakaway run, but instead of backing himself when Maka Unufe ran too far infield, the captain tried to find Unufe anyway - ball intercepted.

They started to lose out on the iffy calls, too. Danny Barrett was harshly penalized in the ruck when South Africa seemed to have not released the tackled player. It was a costly penalty and South Africa promptly scored.

Then after they got a penalty and kicked for the lineout, the USA overthrew said lineout, and try number three.

The second half continued to see the USA force the issue and not connect on passes or on set piece - the second half kickoff, for example, didn’t go ten meters.

Still they showed heart. Zack Test made a brilliant try-saving tackle on what seemed a sure try from Cecil Afrika.

But luck wasn’t on their side. A kick for Isles didn’t bounce to him, and later an inability to get the pass to the winger meant it was five points the other way, Afrika scoring his second of the game. Passes to both Isles and Baker (on the field together at one point to perhaps find space for one of them) went behind them. It was an unpleasant regression for a team that has stepped up so much.

Why? Because the USA hasn’t arrived, and luck, fatigue, referees, and the truth have a way of humbling you.

The USA was a breath of fresh air in making the semis, and, unfortunately, were not allowed to wallow in that good feeling.