USA 7s at Brazil 7s

The Women's Eagles 7s were looking to continue their momentum from their 5th place Plate championship at last week's Atlanta 7s with another trip to the Cup round at Brazil 7s this week. The Eagles had a solid chance at advancing with their draw including their Plate opponents England, Atlanta 7s champions New Zealand, and 12th place finishers Ireland. Their Day 2 performance in Atlanta made it seem entirely plausible the Eagles would move on with a higher seed than the week prior.

Unfortunately they weren't able to sustain their try-scoring form as they opened yesterday against England and fell 19-5 in a game characterized by defensive errors and Eagle miscues.

The next match against New Zealand's "Sisters" saw displays of brilliant defense from the Eagles, markedly improved from the first match, as they held the Kiwis to a 17-0 scoreline. Twitter was abuzz with compliments regarding the fantastic tackling and the defensive shifts the women made to cover a very dangerous NZ 7s side.

Despite an 0-2 record,the USA still had the chance to advance to the Cup Quarterfinals with a big enough victory over Ireland (also pending the scores of Japan v Argentina and Spain v Canada). The Eagles won 22-0 - normally a score to be pleased with and a dominant victory - but it wasn't enough as Japan bested Argentina 37-0 (the Eagles needed a point differential of less than 25 to move on) while Spain upset Canada 28-26. The Eagles thus moved on to the Bowl Semifinals for Day 2 of Brazil 7s.

Day 2 Rugby in the Rain. Canada v New Zealand Semifinal

Photo: iRB Women's Rugby twitter

There the Eagles made quick work of Argentina in their semifinal on a rain-soaked day 2. The match saw the Eagles score 7 unconverted tries in a 35-0 win over the Pumas in their 2013-2014 iRB debut. 6 different Eagles found their finishing moves in that game and the proclivity for points spilled over into the Bowl Final where they defeated hosts Brazil with a tidy and efficient 21-0 win.

The Day 2 effort makes up for a bit of a lackluster Day 1, and two shutouts with a 56-0 aggregate score are nothing to sneeze at. But it begs the question - why are the Eagles women coming up so short in pool play? What's going on with game preparation that in each tournament they have had to play numbers games to make/miss the Cup rounds? What is preventing them from punching their ticket to the Top 8 with dominant wins in opening games or by placing 1st/2nd in their pool? What held the Eagles back from running up the score against Ireland yesterday when points were a clear priority and what's with all the missed conversions this weekend? Why is the USA elevating and regressing with each tournament this season rather than sustaining the effort and building as the circuit progresses?

The lineup this week had only one change as compared to Atlanta, so the personnel was essentially the same as in the Plate run and last week's victory over England, so what changed - besides the weather which affected all 12 teams playing in hot, humid Sao Paulo?

Hopefully the next 6 weeks of training leading up to China produce some clear answers and results as this is a team with the clear potential to succeed. Nothing would be better than definitive pool play victories guaranteeing a decent seeding for the Cup round. There are flashes of amazing chemistry and magic with this women's team, but coming off a 3rd Place 7s World Cup finish and last year's 4th place Women's Sevens World Series showing, it's fairly disappointing that the Eagles currently sit in 7th place in the iRB standings.

For more details on this weekend's matches, here are the USA Rugby recaps:

Sao Paulo Sevens: Day One recap

Chad Wise // Photo Martin Seras Lima

Friday, February 21, 2014

SAO PAULO, Brazil – The Women’s Eagles Sevens will not make a run for the Cup at Sao Paulo Sevens, the third round of the 2013-14 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, after limping out of Pool A with losses to England and New Zealand and a win against Ireland Friday.

The Eagles defeated England in the Plate Semifinal of Atlanta 7s last weekend, but could not replicate the win in the first match at Arena Barueri Friday in a 19-5 loss. England’s Heather Fisher opened the scoring before Jessica Javelet showcased her speed to draw the Eagles within two at the half. The second half was all England however, as the Eagles failed to score in the final seven minutes and gave up two tries despite being up a player for several minutes.

It did not get any easier for the Eagles, who took on New Zealand in their second match of the day. Carla Hohepa scored two tries and Huriana Manuel added the insurance in a 17-0 shutout win for New Zealand.
The Eagles needed a win in their final pool match to have any shot at advancing to the Cup Quarterfinals and did the job with a 22-0 defeat of Ireland. Megan Bonny put the Eagles on the board in the third minute of the match and Javelet recorded her second career hat trick in just her ninth match to seal the deal for the Eagles.
Despite the win and a third-place finish good enough for the Cup Quarterfinals at Atlanta 7s last week, the Eagles will contest the Bowl for finishing Day One as the third-best third-place team in Sao Paulo. They will face Argentina in the Bowl Semifinal at 1:58 P.M. ET. With a win, the Eagles will advance to the Bowl Final, while a loss would put them in the 11th-Place Match.

Follow live updates with @USARugby on Twitter and watch Sao Paulo Sevens live on the Women’s Sevens World Series website.

 

Six try-scorers score seven in Eagles' Sao Paulo Bowl Semifinal win

Chad Wise // Photo Michael Lee

Saturday, February 22, 2014

SAO PAULO, Brazil – The Women’s Eagles Sevens booked their ticket to the Sao Paulo Sevens Bowl Final with a dominant, 35-0 win against Argentina in the Semifinal Saturday.

Argentina did not help its own cause in the second minute with a second dangerous tackle warranting a sin bin trip for Gimena Acuna. Kelly Griffin took the ball at midfield and found the extra room to open the scoring for the Eagles.

A minute later, Lauren Doyle made it 10-0 when she used winger Jessica Javelet as a decoy to split two defenders and show off her own pace to add the Eagles’ second try.
Javelet did not waste her own opportunity on the next possession when she was given half an acre of space to extend the Eagles’ lead to 15-0, which they held at halftime.

In the first minute of the second frame, the Eagles passed the ball a dozen times without being tackled and Griffin finished the move with a run into the try zone. Jillion Potter bullied two defenders at the try line in the eleventh minute to bring the score to 25-0.

Christy Ringgenberg and Victoria Folayan were substituted by Eagles Head Coach Ric Suggitt for captain Deven Owsiany and Javelet. Folayan’s first touch of the ball resulted in the Eagles’ sixth try. The pass intended for Folayan was short, but a fortuitous bounce landed in the hands of the speedy wing, who outpaced her opposite number into the in-goal.

After the final whistle had gone, both teams refused to put an end to the match and Argentina cleared the ball from the try zone to midfield. Last week at Atlanta 7s, Suggitt mentioned after the Plate Final win against Spain he wished his girls would have scored one more instead of kicking the ball to touch.

In Brazil, Ringgenberg did just that to give the Eagles the 35-0 win. They will face Brazil in the Bowl Final after the host nation similarly defeated Ireland, 30-0, in the other Semifinal. Watch the Eagles live on the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series website at 5:26 P.M. ET from Sao Paulo and follow live match updates with @USARugby on Twitter.

Women's Eagles Sevens | v Argentina | Sao Paulo Sevens Bowl Semifinal
1. Deven Owsiany
2. Kelly Griffin
3. Jillion Potter
4. Rebekah Siebach
5. Christy Ringgenberg
6. Lauren Doyle
7. Victoria Folayan
8. Amelia Villines
9. Lorrie Clifford
10. Dana Meschisi
11. Megan Bonny
12. Jessica Javelet
Women's Eagles Sevens | 35
Tries: Griffin (2), Doyle, Javelet, Potter, Folayan, Ringgenberg
Conversions: None

Eagles win Bowl in Sao Paulo with defeat of host

Chad Wise // Photo Martin Seras Lima

Saturday, February 22, 2014

SAO PAULO, Brazil – The Women’s Eagles Sevens won the Bowl Saturday at Sao Paulo Sevens with a 21-0 defeat of host nation Brazil in the Bowl Final. Jillion Potter scored two tries to lead the Eagles in the win.

Lauren Doyle almost opened the scoring after the first pass when she found daylight in otherwise rainy conditions, but she was tackled in open field before she could beat her last defender.

Potter scored her first try in the fifth minute by scooping up a loose ball and running underneath the sticks untouched. Amelia Villines kicked the first successful conversion for the Eagles on Day Two after they went 0-7 in the 35-0 win against Argentina in the Bowl Semifinal.

The Eagles took the slim lead into the half, but Potter needed just two minutes in the second frame to extend it. Much like her try in the win against Argentina, Potter bowled over two defenders on the try line to dot down. Villines successfully converted for a 14-0 lead.

With less than two minutes remaining, Christy Ringgenberg added the insurance tally and the extras to bring the final score to 21-0.

The Eagles finish Sao Paulo Sevens with a 3-0-2 record and hardware, as well as four points in the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series standings. The Eagles will next travel to China in April for Guangzhou Women’s Sevens, but not before some recovery and training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

Women's Eagles Sevens | v Brazil | Sao Paulo Sevens Bowl Semifinal
1. Deven Owsiany
2. Kelly Griffin
3. Jillion Potter
4. Rebekah Siebach
5. Christy Ringgenberg
6. Lauren Doyle
7. Victoria Folayan
8. Amelia Villines
9. Lorrie Clifford
10. Dana Meschisi
11. Megan Bonny
12. Jessica Javelet
Women's Eagles Sevens | 21
Tries: Potter (2), Ringgenberg
Conversions: Villines (2), Ringgenberg

Brazil 7s Preview

Scrum Queens has a throrough look at Friday's Brazil 7s pools with a breakdown of the competition and expected outcomes. The only change in participation from Atlanta 7s is that Argentina replaces China as the 12th team in the brackets. Should be a great weekend as any number of teams can advance to the Cup Quarterfinals based on the draw!

Sao Paulo Sevens: Preview

The Women’s Sevens World Series moves from winter to summer this weekend as – after the shortest ever break between tournaments – the Series moves into the southern hemisphere for the first time.

A mere five days after departing the unseasonal chill of snowy Atlanta, teams will see the mercury climb a full 30 degrees as the WSWS roadshow touches down in Sao Paulo, on the Atlantic coast some 200 miles west of Rio.

However, for those expecting perfect sevens weather, February is also the wettest month in Brazil’s largest city and heavy rain and thunder storms are currently forecast for the weekend.

With three teams tied in fifth place after two rounds of the current Series, the draw was less predictable and has resulted in some interesting and varied pools for Friday.

Pool A is, on paper, by far the toughest of the three. All four teams are Core teams, with New Zealand (1^st in the series) taking on England (5th=), United States (5th=) and Ireland (12^th).

In practice you have to have some sympathy for the young Irish team for whom this must represent the worst possible draw. That said, what they will gain from this will be experience and that may see them well placed for the Bowl tournament on Saturday (also see an excellent Irish Times article on IRFU plans for the team)
New Zealand – after their performance in Atlanta – will be favourites to win the pool, but who will finish second and automatically qualify for the last eight, and who will be left with the lottery that is third place is almost impossible to pick. Although England have a great overall record against the USA, the Americans impressive first win over England on Sunday means that this one is impossible to pick.

Pool B is, in contrast, statistically the weakest pool, bringing together Australia (2^nd in the series), Russia (4^th), Japan (9^th) and Argentina (unranked).

It’s very hard to see beyond Australia and Russia taking the top two spots, though in what order will be interesting to see. It's clear that Russian coach Pavel Baronovsky rates the development of his team by their performances against teams like the Australians, who he sees as a tough challenge, but beatable – as Russia proved in Amsterdam last season.

Japan should take third, if they maintain their form from Atlanta, and could threaten a quarter-final place if they perform well – especially against Argentina. While Argentina are clearly South America’s number two team, they are significantly behind Brazil, which suggests that they may struggle in this pool, and will be targeting the Bowl.

Pool C Canada (3^rd), Spain (5^th), Brazil (8^th) and the Netherlands (10^th) is probably the most well balanced of the three pools, with some fascinating match-ups, and realistic chances of any of the teams making the last eight.

Spain and the Netherlands know each other extremely well, not least through several joint training camps over the past two years. Spain have almost always come out on top, but if the Dutch are to retain any Olympic ambitions then they know they must close the gap on the Spanish. Both teams could be carrying injuries from Atlanta into the tournament, making their meeting even more unpredictable.

Canada’s superb form from Atlanta should see them win the pool, though again it will not be plain sailing. On form the Dutch defensive efforts can frustrate the best teams, as England and New Zealand discovered last weekend, while Spain will be even more of a threat given any space. That said, Canada will be very confident of a quarter-final place given this draw.

Brazil will have the benefit, or huge pressure, of playing at home in front of a crowd with high expectations that has never seen them lose a match in any home sevens series (or rarely even concede a try, such is their dominance of South American rugby). It is unlikely that they will retain that record, but they will be tough opposition, especially with if the Sarda / Santini combination are on form. They only need one win to be in the running for a quarter final place, and the emotion and home support could be enough to get them there.

Women's Sevens World Series: Round 3, Sao Paulo.

Pool A	Pool B	Pool C
New Zealand	Australia	Canada
England	Russia	Spain
United States	Japan	Brazil
Ireland	Argentina	Netherlands

Day one fixtures (local time. GMT-3, CET-4)

• 14:30 New Zealand  v  Ireland (Pool A)
• 14:52 England  v  United States (Pool A)
• 15:14 Spain  v  Brazil (Pool C)
• 15:36 Canada  v  Netherlands (Pool C)
• 15:58 Australia  v  Argentina (Pool B)
• 16:20 Russia  v  Japan (Pool B)
• 17:14 New Zealand  v  United States (Pool A)
• 17:36 England  v  Ireland (Pool A)
• 17:58 Canada  v  Brazil (Pool C)
• 18:20 Spain  v  Netherlands (Pool C)
• 18:42 Australia  v  Japan (Pool B)
• 19:04 Russia  v  Argentina (Pool B)
• 19:58 United States  v  Ireland (Pool A)
• 20:20 New Zealand  v  England (Pool A)
• 20:42 Brazil  v  Netherlands (Pool C)
• 21:04 Canada  v  Spain (Pool C)
• 21:26 Japan  v  Argentina (Pool B)
• 21:48 Australia  v  Russia (Pool B)

Play begins at 14:30 local time on Day 2.

A Look at Brazil 7s from the iRB

Here's more on the next women's tournament from the iRB website regarding Brazil as hosts, Argentina's inclusion, and why New Zealand is thrilled for the Brazilian tour stop:

Brazil set to showcase Women's Sevens

(IRB.COM) Tuesday 18 February 2014

 

Brazil welcome the Women's Sevens World Series to Sao Paulo on Friday

 

Boosted by the news that they will secure an automatic spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Rugby Sevens event, Brazil’s top female Rugby players return to home soil for the Sao Paulo leg of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series determined to showcase the skill, speed and success to Brazilians.

Brazil sit joint eighth in the Series standings and head to Sao Paulo, the first IRB Sevens Series event to take place in the 2016 Olympic Games host nation, knowing that they have a great opportunity attract more players and fans to a sport that has witnessed a 25% increase in participation in two years.

President of the Brazil Rugby Union Sami Arap Sobrinho said: “This is a massive opportunity for Rugby and women’s sport in Brazil and, along with our friends from all the other competing nations, we are looking forward to showcasing the breath-taking sport of Rugby Sevens ahead of the Rio Olympics.”

“We are honoured to be representing our nation at Rio 2016 and proud to welcome the world’s top women’s Rugby Sevens players to Brazil this weekend. I urge sports fans to come along and experience our sport, once you have seen the tremendous skill and endeavour, you’ll be hooked.”

With major broadcaster SporTV screening all the action live and the IRB.com streaming every tackle, pass and try, the event promises to give an unprecedented broadcast platform in Brazil to the Sao Paulo Sevens and the draw has delivered some mouth-watering match ups.

The draw was announced as teams left Atlanta following the second round of the Series, where New Zealand claimed the top prize. Sean Horan's players took on Ireland and England in their pool in Atlanta and will do the same again this weekend when they face each other in Pool A, along with USA.

Pool B will see Argentina join the series for the first time this year - and they'll have to do battle with Australia, Russia and Japan in Arena Barueri.

Brazil are in Pool C where they'll face Atlanta Sevens runners-up Canada, Spain and the Netherlands.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MATCH SCHEDULE FOR #BRAZIL7s >> 

 

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The IRB Women’s Sevens Series really is taking off and the standard of competition in Atlanta was outstanding once again. I am sure that Sao Paulo will advance the sport.”

"We're so excited to bring this top class event to Brazil now, just over two years out from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Competition like this prepares the world’s top women for what it will be like in Rio, and they will benefit enormously from it." 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IRB WOMEN'S SEVENS WORLD SERIES STANDINGS >>

Games kick off in Arena Barueri on Friday at 14.30 in Sao Paulo (GMT -2) when last year's champions New Zealand take on Ireland. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY TWO IN ATLANTA>>

Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Russia, Spain and USA are core teams on the 2013/14 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series after reaching the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013. The eight core teams compete across all rounds of the Series. 

IRB Women's Sevens World Series 2013/14: Dates and Venues:

First leg: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 28-29, 2013

Second leg: Atlanta, Georgia, USA - February 15-16, 2014

Third leg: Arena Barueri, São Paulo, Brazil - February 21-22, 2014

Fourth leg: GuangzhoU University Town Stadium, Guangzhou, China - April 4-6 2014

Fifth leg: National Rugby Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands - May 16-17, 2014 

On Argentina's First iRB 7s Tournament since Houston 2013:

Unique opportunity for Argentina's women

(IRB.COM) Tuesday 18 February 2014

 

Noelia Billerbeck and her teammates are inspired by Brazil's place on World Series

 

Argentina have a rare opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best sides this weekend in the Brazilian round of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series and are determined to seize it with both hands.

A year has passed since they played on the Series and finished 11th in Houston, beating Trinidad & Tobago 25-5 in their final match after losses to South Africa, Canada, USA and South American rivals Brazil and plenty has happened in that time.

Not least the inclusion of the women’s players in the Uniόn Argentina de Rugby’s High Performance programme, which has allowed them to come together on a monthly basis for the last seven months and work on aspects they noticed were not on a par with other teams in Houston.

“Since last year, and based on what we experienced in the Houston tournament, we have tried to improve in several aspects,” explained coach Miguel Serό.

“In terms of lessons learned, we could highlight the organisational side and that we have to improve our physical condition because we noticed a lot of difference with other teams.

“For this tournament we have tried to prepare as best as we possibly can.

Learning from the best

“The inclusion of players within the UAR High Performance programme gave us the possibility of achieving an improvement in physical condition, which has been reflected in a great improvement in the technical side and understanding of the game.”

Training under the same structures as the Argentina men’s Sevens teams has resulted in “vast improvements” which have given the players “great motivation to train harder” according to captain Noelia Billerbeck.

“Our goal is to continue adding experience and continue to grow as a team,” insisted Billerbeck.

For Serό, the opportunity to learn from the top teams is one he is determined to make the most of in order to ensure the team continues to develop in what is now one of the world’s fastest growing sports.

“The main objective from this tournament is to absorb and maximise the different situations that will present at the event and to make a good diagnosis of how our level compares to the other countries,” explained Serό.

“It is clearly very important for us to play on the Series. We believe that every sport has three main parts to develop – training, competition and to spread rugby all over with the help of the media.

South American pride

“Being able to compete with the best in the world is for us an unique opportunity that we will take full advantage of as most of all we want to learn from these great powers.”

The fact that this year they will play on the Series in their own region is not lost on either Serό or Billerbeck with the presence of the Brazilian women at every tournament this season also providing an inspiration to their Argentine counterparts.

“There’s no doubt for South America there is a real pride to have the circuit being held in Brazil,” said Serό. “We can take that as an example and believe that in the future this may be done in another South American country.

“All South American countries see Brazil as a role model in the women’s Game.”

Billerbeck added: “Brazil is a great exponent at South American level and having a tournament there will be very motivational for women’s rugby in the region. It is nice to see a South American country participating in the World Series and it inspires us to work hard to be in that place.” 

And finally an older piece on why the New Zealand 7s "Sisters" are looking forward to Sao Paulo:

NZ women relishing Sao Paulo challenge

(IRB.COM) Friday 23 August 2013

 

New Zealand captain Huriana Manuel and her team-mates will be hoping for a strong title defence

 

The news that Brazil's Sao Paulo will host a round of the 2013/14 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series has come as a source of real excitement for current holders New Zealand, who already have an eye on the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.

It was announced this week that the Series will be extended from four to six rounds, after a very successful inaugural year.

New Zealand coach Sean Horan said playing in the country that will host the Olympics was a big opportunity for the team.

“It’s a huge part of the development towards Rio," said Horan.

"There hasn’t been a lot of Sevens played in Brazil, but in three year’s time they will be hosting the biggest Sevens tournament ever, so to have Sao Paulo on the women’s stage is fantastic.

“When it comes to Rio in 2016, to have experienced the Brazilian culture, to have experienced the different climate, travel and logistical arrangements will be hugely beneficial to us as well helping Brazil lay a strong foundation for Rio.”

Horan, who also led the New Zealand "sisters" to Rugby World Cup Sevens glory in Moscow in June, said his team would make the most of the opportunity to build a fan base in Brazil ahead of their debut on the Olympic stage.

“The South Americans, including Argentina, they love New Zealand, they love the All Blacks, they love Kiwi rugby and we want to help create a fantastic game for all so all that will help us.”

The Series will now feature six tournaments, kicking off with Dubai (November 28-30), then Atlanta (February 15-16), Sao Paulo (February 21-22), Guangzhou (April 4-6) and Amsterdam (May 16-17). The sixth tournament will be confirmed later this year.

The expansion of the Series underscores the IRB’s commitment to grow Rugby in emerging markets and the Sao Paulo round will complement successful mass participation programmes run by the Brazilian Union ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games, where Rugby Sevens will make its debut.

“What it does is give everyone confidence about where the game is going, to go from nothing two years ago with invitational tournaments, to a World Series of four to six, the growth is there heading to 2020 so that is really exciting for Women’s Rugby,” said Horan.

“We have always been prepared for it and thought we would have to emulate what the men do, backing up two tournaments in a row. That is something we will now have to take into consideration – as players have told me, Sevens is what we do now, it’s our job, we enjoy doing what we do and we just go and do it.”

Women's 7s Headed to Brazil, Eagles Make One Change

Who knew that Brazil 7s was so quick around the corner?

I knew it was the next stop on the iRB tour but had didn't quite realize that Sao Paulo is this weekend until one of my Eagles friends mentioned that with travel they basically have a 4 day turnaround to acclimate and prepare. Atlanta came to a conclusion just on Sunday and Sao Paulo kicks off this Friday. These amazing athletes ended 2 days of intense competition in the snow and cold, hop on a plane for several hours, and landed today in Brazil to 98 degree weather in the rainiest season of the year. Plus they kick off on Friday the 21st, the rugby equivalent of having played a Monday Night Football game and losing a vital recovery day. It's hard enough to condition and train for such high level competition, but dealing with all these elements with a quick turnaround is intense! Much respect to all the women traveling and playing this weekend.

 The Eagles landed in Brazil and immediately hit the pitch. 

Photo: Twitter, courtesy Eagles trainer Nicole Titmas

The Eagles have only one change for the roster this weekend which seems wise as the team really clicked on Day 2 of the tournament. They are bringing in another crossover athlete in Lorrie Clifford to replace the injured Irene Gardner. She is a recent rugby convert, coming to the game via a D1 college basketball career; we wish her as stunning of a an iRB 7s debut as Jessica Javelet had in Atlanta.

Rugby Magazine has more information:

Roster Change for USA Women 7s in Brazil

Written by Jackie Finlan    Monday, 17 February 2014 12:50

Roster Change for USA Women 7s in Brazil

Sevens - USA Sevens Women

The USA Women 7s has made one roster change to the team that will compete at Brazil 7s, the third leg of the IRB Women's Sevens World Series. The two-day Sao Paulo event is making its debut on the IRB women's circuit and will commence this Friday, Feb. 21. Irene Gardner during the USA's pool play game against Canada. (Paul Rudman photo) Irene Gardner was injured during day one of the Atlanta 7s last weekend and has been replaced by Lorrie Clifford. Gardner was one of two non-contracted players in Atlanta (Christy Ringgenberg was the other) and was substituted into the Eagles' opener against Canada (photo) for her only appearance. Clifford is a former DI basketball player for Western Oregon and entered the Eagle pool last summer after attending a crossover camp at the Chula Vista OTC. The Eagle River, Alaska, native was contracted in August 2013, got her first taste of international 7s with the Serevi Selects at the Coral Coast 7s, and then debuted for the Eagles at the Dubai 7s in November. The USA will play Atlanta 7s champion New Zealand, England and Ireland during Brazil 7s pool play. Of the three teams, the Eagles played England last weekend, beating the Roses 19-5 in the Plate semifinals. The USA went on to win the Plate 22-0 over Spain.