USA beat Argentina 28-0 to win their first Cup final of the season, as Fiji take Bronze at the HSBC USA Sevens

HSBC Player of the Final, USA’s Danny Barrett, scored two of the home sides four tries in front of a packed Sam Boyd Stadium this evening as the Eagles Sevens closed Las Vegas as champions.

Winning their second ever Cup final, the first in 2015 at the London Sevens, Mike Friday’s men thrilled the crowds and held opponents Argentina to a zero score line after another blockbuster day of rugby in Las Vegas.

🎥 Interview: ‘credit to the men in the arena’ @MikeFriday09 of @USARugby praises his side after incredible #USA7s win in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/SZCbp3Nfua — World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 5, 2018

USA, unbeaten in the weekend’s tournament, outplayed Fiji in the Cup semi-final 19-7 and faced stiff opposition in Argentina who also went into the game with a clean sheet and a well-worked 12-10 victory over South Africa. Eager to improve on last year’s Bronze finish in Vegas, USA secured a 28-0 victory with Perry Baker getting their first points on the board. Barrett’s first try followed and two successful conversions from Folau Niua gave the hosts a 14-0 half time lead. Barrett added his second score straight out of the gates and after holding firm USA added a fourth and final try through Carlin Isles, Niua successfully kicking four from four to seal an emphatic victory at full time.

Highlights: Action packed day three at the #USA7s pic.twitter.com/ZRuh35aCuO — World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 5, 2018

On the momentous day for USA Sevens, head coach Mike Friday said, “Credit to the men in the arena they were outstanding, they went out there and executed. They’ve executed all three days but especially today we had to change tactics for the Fiji semi we then had to readjust for the Final everyone delivered and that’s great to see. This is a total squad effort and I’m lucky to have such a great bunch of players and support staff.

“We want to show the sporting landscape in the USA what rugby can be and how that fits within the American landscape and this hopefully will touch and reach a lot of sports fans who realise they’ve got another national team that they can be proud of and that they can support.”

HSBC Player of the Final, Barrett added, ”It's such a team effort, we've worked so hard for so long. Three straight years in a semi-final in Las Vegas and to come here, missing our captain and missing a number of players, it's just so amazing to win on home soil. A second Cup final ever for the USA and it feels great to be at home."

It was day full of breath-taking action as Fiji, champions in New Zealand, beat South Africa 26-22 in the Bronze Final, whilst France secured the Challenge Trophy with a 26-19 win over Canada.

VIEW ALL OF THE RESULTS FROM LAS VEGAS HERE

After five rounds South Africa remain top of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2018 standings, New Zealand stay in second place, 10 points behind the Blitzbok, and Fiji hold onto third place.

The teams will reconvene in Vancouver 10-11 March.

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Sevens action continues in the USA at the Rugby World Cup Sevens hosted in San Francisco in July. Tickets are on sale now, click here for more information.