PERTH (Azat TV) – The United States women’s national rugby sevens team delivered a commanding performance, defeating the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side 34–15 in their opening Pool A match at the Perth 7s tournament on the afternoon of February 7, 2026. The decisive victory for the Americans, fueled by a powerful second-half surge, immediately established them as a formidable contender in the early stages of the HSBC SVNS Perth event.
USA Dominates Fijiana in Perth Sevens Opener
The Fijiana side, known for its dynamic play, initially showed promise when Reapi Uluinasau crossed the try line early in the first half, giving Fiji the lead. However, a missed conversion allowed the USA to stay within striking distance. The momentum swiftly shifted as the American team responded with two tries before the halftime whistle, despite incurring two yellow cards during the period. Fiji struggled to maintain possession and capitalize on attacking opportunities, with handling errors and penalties frequently conceding territory to their opponents. The USA extended their advantage, heading into the interval with a 17–5 lead.
Early Leads and American Response
The second half saw the United States further solidify their control. Capitalizing on a turnover close to Fiji’s goal line, Samantha Sullivan scored to widen the gap. Despite the growing deficit, Fijiana demonstrated resilience, with Uluinasau securing her second try of the match. Kolora Lomani then added another following a scrum win, narrowing the score to 22–15 and igniting hopes for a Fijian comeback. However, the American side quickly regained composure and control in the closing stages. Autumn Czapliki scored to push their lead, and Kaylen Thomas sealed the emphatic victory with a late try in extra time, bringing the final score to 34–15, as reported by Fijivillage.com.
Fijiana’s Road Ahead in Perth
While the Fijiana team displayed flashes of their renowned attacking flair, particularly through the efforts of Uluinasau and Lomani, turnovers and defensive lapses proved costly against a disciplined USA squad. The result places pressure on Fiji as they look to regroup for their subsequent Pool A matches. The team is scheduled to face New Zealand later today at 5:58 PM local time, followed by a match against Japan at 8:52 PM. The women’s Cup semi-finals are slated for tomorrow, February 8, at 4:13 PM, with the highly anticipated Cup final set for 8:28 PM that evening.
The USA’s ability to convert Fijian errors into points and maintain a high-scoring output, even when playing with numerical disadvantage, underscores a strategic depth and clinical execution that will be crucial as the Perth Sevens tournament progresses.