For the Chris Wyles-led Eagles, the hometown familiarities of this weekend's USA 7s come along with the novel pressures of pursuing a third consecutive quarterfinal berth -- as favorites to advance.
After the San Diego weekend begins with South Africa, a bogey team America has never bested in 12 attempts, Australia and Canada make up the balance of pool A's round robin. Distinguished teams to be sure, but the 9th-ranked Eagles begin the fourth leg of the 2008-09 Sevens World Series ahead of both.
Two wins would likely see the Eagles through to the final eight for the first time on American soil, where even the improving editions of recent years have struggled to get going in the early rounds.
This past December at the South Africa 7s, the US chalked up its first-ever win over Australia, 28-26. Last weekend the Eagles posted a rare Fijian victory. But while the tournament-leading Springboks come in with a 24-1-5 record over their last 30 matches and the Australians are 16-14, the US is sub-.500 at 14-16. Canada is 8-2-20.
In revised player statistics released by the IRB, captain Wyles has been credited with 13 tries, 3d best on the 7s circuit. Teammate Kevin Swiryn's 10 tries ties the St. Mary's newcomer with 5 others in 5th place. Earlier this week, US officials provided the IRB with video evidence that Wyles had 5 more scores than the official records, which Gainline.us had cited; Swiryn had not been among the leaders at all.
Coach Al Caravelli has named 15 players to a provisional tournament roster, with 3 to be omitted by today. For Swiryn, San Diego would be the 24-year-old Californian's first appearance at home, where the Eagle faithful also have been slow starters over the past 5 years.
With as many as 50,000 expected at the two-day event, a more raucous home crowd could help the Eagles play to their increasingly evident potential, while making rugby's case to the national TV audience that will tune in a week later.
Just got done watching Todd Clever play the last 30 minutes for the Lions. He made me proud to be an American rugger and he will be sorely missed this weekend...
Posted by: lv_rugger | 13 February 2009 at 11:08
Canada will beat you today.
Posted by: canuck | 14 February 2009 at 07:06
Chuck Norris says - what was that, Canuck? Chuck can't hear you over the roar of the crowd as 6 Americans smacked 7 Canadians.
Hoser.
Posted by: Chuck Norris | 15 February 2009 at 08:07