As common a word as “scrum” in assessing the prospects for the USA team in any international, is the word “goalkicking.”

True, some would say that’s two words, but here in America we like to make one word out of things like kickoffs, lineouts, and goalkickers.

For the Eagles, their goalkicker Nese Malifa knows there’s a lot of pressure on him, especially as Russia flyhalf Yury Kushnarev is outstanding in that regard. Certainly Russia will be able to net points (especially if the Eagles keep committing penalties).

But Malifa, who has been working hard with USA kicking coach Chris O’Brien, is feeling confident.

“This is the best I’ve been kicking in a very long time,” the flyhalf told RUGBYMag.com. “I’ve been striking the ball very well.”

Malifa and O’Brien have been poring over videos of his kicking, working on his fundamentals and his approach to the ball.

“I want to be doing them consistently,” he explained. “Against Tonga, I missed that first kick. There was some wind. I normally, if I am kicking from the right side, aim for the left post, and if I am kicking from the left side, I aim for the right post. The wind kept changing, and I had to adjust after that one.”

Still, Malifa notched a nicely-taken penalty later that half, and a touchline conversion that, at the time, seemed critical.

“Consistency is the key,” he said.

And if you look closely, you may well see Malifa talking to himself while he sets up his kicks. The flyhalf admits that is exactly what he is doing.

“I am just reminding myself of the basics: head down, follow through, shoulders in.”

The 7s season is slowly getting underway, and while some territories have begun their qualifier season.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened so far:

In the first qualifier of the Mid-Atlantic RFU series, Schuylkill River defeated the Pittsburgh Harlequins 34-5 in the final of the Lehigh 7s, in a qualifier bracket that included only two other teams, NOVA and Philly-Whitemarsh.

With NOVA not expected to take the region by storm, the MARFU title is up for grabs. Observers suspect the Maryland Exiles might be back to claim the Mid-Atlantic crown, or perhaps the Norfolk Blues, neither of whom played at Lehigh.

The Lehigh 7s was plenty active in other brackets. Twenty men’s teams played in the men’s open, with Morris winning 35-0 over Baltimore-Chesapeake for the cup. Severn River Black took the Plate 17-0 over Harrisburg, and Monmouth claimed the bowl over Lehigh Valley 19-14.

Among the women, the Washington Furies Blue beat the Northeast RFU Developmental team 15-5 for the cup, and the Furies made it a double, taking the Plate 24-5 over Philadelphia.

So Schuylkill River leads the MARFU series at present, but there are three more tournaments on the slate: Wilmington this weekend, then Rocky Gorge July 9, and Richmond July 16.

In the South, the Atlanta Renegades hosted the Renegade 7s, and only lost to one team. The trouble for them, was, that team beat the twice. The Life Running Eagles looked strong in beating the ‘Gades in pool play and then once more in the final.

Atlanta Old White finished third while the Georgia Selects finished 4^th and the Crimson Tide 5^th.

In the Northeast, Lansdowne defeated Union in the club final, while the MetNY U19s defeated Saratoga in the social final.

The MetNY U19s were also successful in taking the women’s division, while the White Plains Classix took the Old Boys title.

With NYAC reportedly taking a break from 7s, the Northeast 7s competition is wide open, although Boston and Old Blue have to be among the favorites.

And as already reported on RUGBYMag.com, Milwaukee won the Minnesota 7s, the second of the Midwest Summer Series, while 1823, twice second-place, lead the standings.

And defending national champs Old Puget Sound Beach won the Tatunka 7s in Olympia, Wash. to start their season.