Eagle Women Turn It Around In Quarterfinals

The Eagles gave up a soft try when no one was there to form a ruck when Naya Tapper was tackled—France’s Carla Neisen picked up the ball and ran in for a try.

But after that it was all USA. The result was a long-range try for Sam Sullivan, who has been largely silent in Perth and looked a little bit frustrated in not having space and possession to work with. Kelter’s power running meant when the Eagles ran a move with her she broke out of tackles. She scored that way, and then was at the end of a series of runs and offloads for another. Converting all three, Kelter scored 16 of her team’s 21 points in the 21-5 win.

So, improbably, after looking like they were in real trouble, the USA women’s team is into the semifinals. If they can keep their passing as accurate and sympathetic as they had it against the French, they could do something. Next up, Australia at 11:46 tonight Eastern Time.

Australia defeated New Zealand in their quarterfinal, leaving the Black Ferns 3-0 in pool play but now playing for 5th, while the USA was 1-2 in the same pool and is now still in with a shot at the Cup.

Regardless of how the final day shakes out, the USA will move up in the standings. Ranked just ahead of them going into this weekend were Fiji and Canada, and they play each other for 7th. So one of those teams will end up with 8 points and one with 6 points. The USA will get at least 14, and even with that will go past both Fiji and Canada into 4th. Ireland is also in the semis—they play Great Britain. Team GB's performance will lift them into the top eight in the standings (crucial for qualifying for the championship tournament), while 7th-place Ireland should move past one or possibly both of Fiji and Canada. They could even catch the USA.