For Immediate Release

February 7, 2009

 

U.S. Finish New Zealand Sevens 2-3

 

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Following an impressive first-day performance, the U.S. Men’s National Sevens Team faced Argentina and South Africa on Saturday, losing to both, but finishing the tournament with four more IRB Sevens World Series points.

 

“When we play well and we play to our pattern, we can take on anyone. The sky is the limit,” U.S. Men’s Team Coach Al Caravelli said. “Never have we gone to two back-to-back Cup quarter finals. We are really starting to legitimize ourselves in the top eight. These guys continue to raise the bar.”

Playing in its second-straight Cup Quarterfinals this season, the U.S met Argentina in their first game of the day. The U.S. scored 12 points against the Argentinean side, leading the way for the first two minutes, but it wouldn’t prove enough and the Eagles lost in the end 24-12.

 

“We came out strong against Argentina and then got away from our pattern. The guys were a bit disappointed after that match. They felt they had so much more to give,” Caravelli added. “They played very, very hard against South Africa, but they weren’t happy the way they ended.  I think there were a lot more positives than negatives to take away from this tournament. And, I’m really, really proud of them.”

 

In the Plate semifinals, South Africa looked set to redeem itself as they held the U.S. scoreless with a 22-0 victory. South Africa had lost an upset to Kenya on the first day, but refocused in Day 2 and was able to walk away with the Plate.

 

The U.S., on the other hand, was finished for the day and walked away with more experience, confidence and unfortunately injuries as they head next to San Diego for the USA Sevens.

 

“We played that last game with eight players,” Caravelli finished. “There are definitely a few players beat up and we will definitely reassess the team in San Diego, as our whole goal is to get people healthy for the World Cup.

 

For more information on the U.S. Men’s Team, please visit www.usarugby.org or sjohn@usarugby.org. For more information on the IRB Sevens or USA Sevens, please visit www.usasevens.com.

IRB Sevens World Series - Wellington, New Zealand
February 7, 2009 – Final Day Results
25. Tonga 21, Niue 0 - Bowl Quarterfinals

26. France 24, Samoa 7 - Bowl Quarterfinals
27. Cook Islands 33, Canada 12 – Bowl Quarterfinals

28. Australia 22, Scotland 12 – Bowl Quarterfinals

29. Kenya 10, Wales 7 - Cup Quarterfinals

30. England 31, Fiji 10 – Cup Quarterfinals

31. Argentina 24, USA 12 – Cup Quarterfinals

32. New Zealand 7, South Africa 0 - Cup Quarterfinals

33. Niue 21, Samoa 12 - Shield Semifinals

34. Scotland 14, Canada 7 - Shield Semifinals

35. Tonga 12, France 5 - Bowl Semifinals

36. Cook Islands 28, Australia 10 – Bowl Semifinals

37. Wales 14, Fiji 12 - Plate Semifinals
38. South Africa 22, USA 0 – Plate Semifinals

39. England 26, Kenya 0 – Cup Semifinals

40. New Zealand 10, Argentina 7 - Cup Semifinals
41. Scotland 26, Niue 0 - Shield Final

42. Cook Islands 24, Tonga 10 – Bowl Final

43. South Africa 26, Wales 12 – Plate Final

44. England 19, New Zealand 17 - Cup Final

 

IRB Sevens World Series - Wellington, New Zealand
February 6, 2009 - Pool Play Results

1. England 26, France 10 - Pool C
2. Argentina 17, Canada 17 - Pool C
3. USA 15, Fiji 10 - Pool D
4. Samoa 12, Cook Islands 5 - Pool D
5. South Africa 24, Scotland 0 -Pool A
6. Kenya 21, Tonga 14 - Pool A
7. Wales 28, New Zealand 17 - Pool B
8. Australia 22, Niue 17 - Pool B
9. England 34, Canada 7 - Pool C
10. Argentina 33, France 21 - Pool C
11. Fiji 55, Cook Islands 0 - Pool D
12. Samoa 26, USA 17 - Pool D
13. South Africa 22, Tonga 5 - Pool A
14. Scotland 19, Kenya 14 - Pool A
15. New Zealand 43, Niue 7 - Pool B
16. Australia 24, Wales 15 - Pool B
17. France 12, Canada 12 - Pool C
18. USA 41, Cook Islands 0 - Pool D
19. Tonga 21, Scotland 15 - Pool A
20. Wales 34, Niue 10 - Pool B
21. Argentina 13, England 5 - Pool C
22.  Fiji 19, Samoa 5 - Pool D
23. Kenya 22, South Africa 17 - Pool A
24. New Zealand 26, Australia 19 - Pool B

USA Match Reports

 

Day 2

Argentina 24, USA 14 (Halftime Argentina 10, USA 7)
Tries: Swiryn (1:19), Gillenwater (14:00)

Conversions: Malifa 2

U.S. Lineup: Pretorius, Gillenwater, Swiryn, Malifa, Naqica, R. Suniula, Wyles

 

S Africa 22, USA 0 (Halftime S Africa 17)

 

U.S. Lineup: Pretorius, Gillenwater, Hawkins, Stanford, R. Suniula (Paul Titjens - pool player), Wyles, S. Suniula (Naqica)


Day 1
USA 15, Fiji 10 (Halftime U.S. 10, Fiji 5)
Tries: Swiryn (2:04), R. Suniula (7:00), Boyd (14:00)
Conversions: none

U.S. Lineup: Hawkins, Gillenwater (Emerick in at 11:00), Swiryn, Malifa, Naqica, R. Suniula (Boyd in at 10:00), Wyles.

Samoa 26, USA 17(Halftime USA 12, Samoa 7)
Tries: Swiryn (1:42), Wyles (6:00), Wyles (11:40)
Conversions: Malifa

U.S. Lineup: Pretorius (Hawkins in at 9:00), Gillenwater, Emerick, Malifa, Naqica (Stanford in at 11:00), Wyles, Swiryn (Boyd in at 7:00)

USA 41, Cook Islands 0 (Halftime USA 15)
Tries: Wyles (:44), Swiryn (5:00), Wyles (7:00), Boyd (10:00), Wyles (11:00), Emerick (13:10), Emerick (14:00)
Conversions: Malifa 4

U.S. Lineup: Pretorius (Emerick), Gillenwater, Hawkins, Malifa, Naqica (S. Suniula), Wyles, Swiryn (Boyd)

 

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