GRR: Olympics
The USA won their second pool game in the men's Olympic rugby competition; it was rough sledding but they did it, and are now 2-0 and in good position for the rest of the competition.
The USA is 1-0 in Men's Olympic Rugby pool action but it wasn't easy, or pretty.
The Americans seemed in control after about four minutes, but then started making silly errors that put themselves under pressure. Eventually, however, they needed just a couple of big plays, and they got them.
With the injury to Ben Pinkelman every USA forward on the Olympic 7s team will have to raise their game to compensate.
Some of the load will fall on the admittedly broad shoulder of Joe Schroeder. The powerful, long-striding Schroeder has slowly been getting more and more minutes with the USA team, and he brings an extra offensive dimension team. He is also an intriguing story.
Maybe not so much a rookie, Ariana Ramsey is still listed as uncapped for the USA Women’s 7s team; uncapped, but an Olympian.
Ramsey hasn’t played in the Sevens World Series yet, but did enough to garner a place on the Eagles squad for Tokyo. She says it’s because she knew where she was deficient, and fixed it.
Martin Iosefo came into this spring/summer USA 7s team assembly in the best shape of his life, and he is poised to make a big impact in Tokyo.
The Flyn’ Hawaiian was forced, like his teammates, to take time off during the COVID pandemic in 2020. For Iosefo, that time off coincided with his desire to re-format his training, and also support his wife’s career.