Las Vegas Sevens: Baker and Isles hit the jackpot
In a superb display of pace and power – with Danny Barrett added two tries in a 28-0 victory over Argentina in a one-sided Final.
Fiji beat South Africa 26-22 in the thrilling encounter to finish third and close the gap on the series leaders – the BlitzBoks.
New Zealand won 17-12 against Australia in sudden death, extra time of their fifth-place play-off matches, while beat Canada 26-19 in the Challenge trophy Final.
South Africa top the standings at the halfway stage of the World Series with 92 points – followed by New Zealand (82), Fiji (79), Australian (72) and Argentina (67).
— 2018 ARC Champs (@USARugby) March 5, 2018
Cup Final: United States 28-0 Argentina
Folau Niua put boot to ball to start the Final and the USA gained possession straight off his kick.
Argentina did well to pin the home side back in their own half before Danny Barrett had something to say about that as he bulldozes over the gain-line.
Alas for the home fans there was a knock-on in the middle of the park and it was time for Argentina to gain their first bit of possession.
It was that man again and the crowd went NUTS! Luciano González couldn't get a hand on Perry Baker and the speedster's outside arch delivered five early points. Folau Niua added the conversion.
Argentina won a penalty after a dangerous tackle and swung it all the way to the left. Conrado Roura made a strong carry. However, he was caught and isolated at the breakdown. The USA had the final say of the first-half through an incredible combination between Danny Barrett and Perry Baker. Baker slipped and slided between defenders, even rolling out of a tackle too for good measure, and then he found Barrett. The powerful 27-year-old did the rest – 14-0 at the break.
It was not only Perry Baker who was in the zone, the entire USA squad was in the zone. Martin Iosefo's offload to Danny Barrett was plucked out of the air by the forward. He only needed one hand to secure it and then he turned on the afterburners.
With less than two minutes to go Eagles coach Mike Friday brought Carlin Isles onto the pitch. Immediately Perry Baker looked to find his teammate. However, Isles' couldn't take the pass that had just a little too much on it.
A superb counter ruck saw the home side have the last say of the game – Carlin Isles went round on the outside for a try.
HUGE arching pass from Leuta finds @SpeedSt11ck as the US draws first blood.
USA 7-0 ARG#USA7s pic.twitter.com/Oi5JGmBWa1
— 2018 ARC Champs (@USARugby) March 5, 2018
Third-place play-off: Fiji 26-22 South Africa
Fifth-place play-off: New Zealand 17-12 Australia (sudden death, extra time – the teams were level 12-all at the end of regulation time)
Challenge Trophy Final: France 26-19 Canada
Thirteenth-place play-off: Samoa 28-7 Spain
Cup semifinals
In the first semifinal Fiji's first opportunity saw Alasio Naduva turn on the afterburners down the right-hand side. The Fijian was absolutely flying, but Perry Baker tracked him down and bundled him into touch. Sevuloni Mocenacagi turned this game on its head – fending off the attentions of Martin Iosefo and opened up his long and rangy stride.
From behind his own tryline, the United States' speedster Perry Baker took the ball, with three defenders on him, but that didn't bother him one jot. Pace, power, stepping, he had it all.
Alasio Naduva was handed a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and off the penalty Folau Niua took his time to set up the right move. Niua took a big collision for his troubles, but it didn't matter, because he found Matai Leuta. Baker finished it in style,
It was a simple first score from South Africa, as Ruhan Nel got it wide to Siviwe Soyizwapi. The BlitzBoks' lead was short-lived though, as Matías Osadczuk won a footrace to the line at the other end.
Kyle Brown put in a dominate tackle on Gastón Revol before two of his teammates arrived and help usher Argentina's key man into touch.
With 44 seconds to go and there was another twist. Matías Osadczuk was halted just short and as he nearly fell into touch his offload defied gravity and put Renzo Barbier over for the match-winning try.
Results:
Fiji 7-19 United States
Argentina 12-10 South Africa
Is @bookemshaaarkie looking to claim the "fastest on the team" title with that run?!
Heart rates starting to rise in Las Vegas.
USA 21-0 ARG#USA7s pic.twitter.com/lxLMuldLvs
— 2018 ARC Champs (@USARugby) March 5, 2018
Fifth-place semifinal
Results
New Zealand 19-14 England
Kenya 21-26 Australia (sudden death extra time; teams were tied 21-all at the end of regulation time)
Challenge Trophy semifinals
Results
France 33-7 Wales
Scotland 12-15 Canada
Thirteenth-place play-off:
Results:
Uruguay 12-26 Samoa
Russia 17-19 Spain
