'I'm really proud of everyone': Test pleased with Eagles' SVNS 2 efforts

Zack Test could not hide his pride for the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens after they qualified for the HSBC SVNS World Championship as top seed.

At the end of HSBC SVNS 2 stops in Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo stops, Test’s team finished top of the pile after  back-to-back podium finishes to start the campaign and a fourth-place finish in Brazil.

That final outing was their most attritional. By Day 2 of the competition, Test only had 10 players match fit and were well-beaten by Kenya in their first match that Sunday.

Their victory against Germany only came by virtue of the Wolfpack having just seven players available.

“We came into SVNS 2, looking to build on our preseason,” Zack Test told USA Rugby. “Our aim was to finish top two and qualify for the World Championships – so mission accomplished. I’m proud of the boys for accomplishing that as the number one seed. That was our goal.

“This was a tough weekend. We came out on Day 1 down four players, so it was a gritty effort this whole weekend. Players had to grind through matches without the subs we usually rely on. But the pride in the jersey, the heart and the respect we have for the jersey and the brotherhood to push through adversity was there.

“We pushed through a lot these last two weeks, with some hard times, and a lot of good moments – a couple debuts, debut tries, a graduation, Lucas [Lacamp] earning his 30th tournament.”

Now Test will begin preparations for the World Championship and the first of three tournaments in Hong Kong. Stages in Asia and Europe will decide whether the USA will retake a place win the HSBC SVNS Series at the first time of asking.

Heading into the three weeks of buildup to Hong Kong and their date at Kai Tai Sports Park, Test knows that his team still have work to do should they want to be one of the world’s top eight teams again.

“I’m really proud of everyone – the staff, the players – and how we have each other’s back,” Test said. “We accomplished what we set out to do. But, our job’s not finished, and the next mission is in front of us, and we’re ready.

“We’ll build upon our consistency, our details, and how to hold that standard for 14 minutes. It’s a whole team effort and everyone is united in the fight. We have our sights set on Hong Kong and performing at the level we know we can.”