The emergence of the United States as a force in rugby sevens has had much to do with the pace of a pair of wings their coach calls ‘The Chuckle Brothers’. Perry Baker and Carlin Isles are both late converts to rugby, yet each had their turn at giant-killing this weekend.
If one doesn’t get you, the other will
The Americans claimed a HSBC World Series title for the first time when they won the tournament before this one, in London last season. When they arrived in the UAE, though, they had still yet to win a match against New Zealand, until Baker’s two tries laid the platform for an on-the-buzzer win on Day 1. Then Isles was the difference in the quarter-final in over South Africa, scoring the winning try in a comeback win.
READ MORE: 'Undercooked' Fiji are still too strong for England in the final
Speed stick is working on it
Baker is already a star in the eyes of World Rugby. In their social media marketing campaign during this tournament, the governing body carried a cartoon of him scaling the Burj Khalifa. “The lift in the tallest building in the world takes 60 seconds to get to the top,” the caption read. “In sevens you have to wait just 70 seconds for a try ... but Speed Stick [which is Baker’s nickname] is working on it.”
Golden inspiration
Michael Johnson, the 400m sprint king, handed out the USA’s playing jerseys on the eve of the competition, and Isles, in particular, was inspired. Isles was a track star in his youth, and was reportedly the 36th fastest 100m sprinter in the United States before switching to rugby. “Had a great chat, talking about sprinting,” Isles tweeted about his meeting with Johnson, who was in Dubai as a guest of the series sponsors. “Can’t wait to work with you.”
Win together, learn together
The Americans eventually had their Dubai Sevens progress halted in the semi-final by England, but they had much to cheer, not least the continued upward ascent of their jet-heeled wings. “You’re seeing both of them growing, with every month that goes by,” said Mike Friday, the ex-England coach who has overseen the startling rise of the United States. “They teach one another, they learn from one another. They are yin and yang, The Chuckle Brothers. It is great to see.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE