Australia will play South Africa in the London Sevens Cup quarter-finals after clinching two wins on day one.
The Aussies had wins over Wales and Spain to kick off their campaign but were relegated to second in Pool D after an agonising 19-17 loss to the USA.
It took the Americans until after full-time to secure the victory with a conversion in a rollercoaster match.
America were the first to score but the Aussies showed their grit to ensure the World Series leaders didn't run away with the game early.
Maurice Longbottom looked like he had scored in the third minute but a decision to try and offload rather than reach over the line cost Australia a score.
Captain Lewis Holland made no mistake with his approach at the line, levelling scores up deep in the first half.
A poor restart after that try put the opportunity right back in the USA’s corner and mammoth forward Danny Barrett made sure the chance counted.
The Aussies pushed the first half well beyond the regulation seven minutes and some creative attacking gave them a half-chance.
Ben O’Donnell put in a grubber kick that landed straight in Carlin Isle’s hands but the USA Speedster coughed up the ball and it was game back on for Australia.
It looked as though Joe Pincus would be able to get the loose ball over the line but the rookie had a moment to forget, knocking it on over the line and leaving the Aussies trailing by seven at the break.
Australia’s defence was gritty in the second half and desperate efforts from Simon Kennewell and Holland prevented Danny Barrett from nabbing a double on his return to World Series action.
Much of their defensive work was undone by some critical handling errors that left them rueing what could have been.
A yellow card for Steve Tomasin for a neck roll on Henry Hutchison gave the Aussies a one-man advantage as the clock ticked down, with still just a converted try between the teams.
Australia took advantage immediately, with Lachie Anderson setting up a red-hot Longbottom for his sixth try of the day and second of the match that levelled things up.
Aussie rookie Lachie Miller made amends for an earlier mistake, showing some candy to two USA defenders to generate a Kennewell try and give Australia the lead for the first time.
Lachie Miller is some player for @Aussie7s
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) May 25, 2019
Untouchable. #London7s pic.twitter.com/FddC4sKtLR
Tomasin returned to the field and scored for the USA with his first touch out of the bin to steal a draw for the Americans.
By the time the winning conversion came full-time had been and gone and any chance of a win was gone for Australia.
The Aussies will take on the winner of Pool A in their Cup quarter-final, South Africa, at 7:58pm AEST on Sunday.
Australia is playing for pride in London but for some of their opponents, there has already been some prizes given out.
The USA and Fiji became the first teams to officially qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with their day one performances.
Australia was seventh in the overall World Series rankings coming into London, with only the top four at the end of the season automatically qualifying.
EARLIER
A Maurice Longbottom hat-trick has helped Australia to a 42-12 win against Spain and set up a decisive final pool match against the USA in London.
The Aussies have won both their opening matches with that victory and the winner of their final match-up against the USA looks set to finish on top of their pool
Spain scored first in the opening minute, with Javier Carrion finishing a perfect counter-attacking play from his side.
A strong run from Jesse Parahi opened up the opportunity for Australia to respond, via Ben O’Donnell.
Spain continued to answer every Australian challenge with Alejandro Sanchez de la Rosa Hernandez beating out Parahi for pace to score on the edge.
Maurice Longbottom gave the Aussies the final say of the first half with a spectacular solo try with the last play of the opening stanza.
Longbottom and Josh Coward showed off their pace in a one-two effort that resulted in Australia’s second try with four minutes left in the match.
Henry Huchison nabbed Australia’s fourth with 90 seconds to go, turning off the afterburners after picking up a quick recycle from Lachie Anderson.
Skipper Lewis Holland looked like sealing the game with a try just shy of full-time but there was time for one more Longbottom special.
The speedster secured his hat-trick and a big 30-point win with the final play of the game.
The Aussies take on the USA at 1:04am AEST, LIVE on Kayo Sports.
AUSTRALIA vs WALES
We're under way here at Twickenham for the #London7s and it's an opening 26-10 win for @Aussie7s
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) May 25, 2019
Watch it LIVE: 📺 https://t.co/OryrUJASv4 pic.twitter.com/CUGAXozV33
Australia's men have opened their London Sevens campaign with a 28-10 win over Wales.
Neither side could eke out an advantage in the early parts of the opening half and some Aussie mistakes gave Wales an opportunity.
It was Lewis Holland who found the line first in the match with a try in the 5th minute after the Aussies pounced on a Welsh mistake.
Henry Hutchison was sent to the bin for a deliberate knockdown in the final minute of the half but the Aussie defence managed to keep the Welsh out and pinch back attacking possession.
It took Wales until the final play of the opening half to score their first through Tom Rogers, narrowing the margin to two points.
Wales were off the mark first in the second half with a try to Joe Goodchild but they found themselves a man down after Cai Devine was deemed to be taking a player out in the air.
Maurice Longbottom was strong in defence for much of the game and he also added a try to his name, making the most of the extra space from a one-man advantage.
Longbottom was over again a minute later, stretching the Aussies’ lead out to nine.
Matthew Hood iced the game with the final play of the opener, handing the Aussies an 18-point win.
RESULTS
Australia 28 - Wales 10
Australia 42 - Spain 12
Sunday May 26
USA 19 - Australia 17
