Reigning Olympic champions Fiji reminded everyone exactly why they have two golds to their name on the opening day of the men’s rugby sevens competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, beating Uruguay and USA to book their place in the medal quarter-finals.
New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina and Australia have also secured their passage to the knockout phase with perfect starts on day one – but hosts France still have work to do to make sure of a place in the last eight, with USA chasing hard in a wide open Pool C.
POOL A
Ireland and New Zealand set up a Pool A decider on Thursday, with two wins apiece.
Terry Kennedy maintained his try-scoring record for Ireland, as they beat South Africa 10-5 in a tense affair to kick-off Pool A. Jordan Conroy also scored, while Selvyn Davids answered for the Blitzboks.
Kennedy, inevitably, got his second – a 75-metre solo run-in – to kick-start the Irish scoring against Japan late in the day. He turned provider for the first of Chay Mullins’ double with another lonely, long distance run. Captain Harry McNulty, Niall Comerford, Mark Roche and Zac Ward all contributed points to a 40-5 win.
Meanwhile, Akuila Rokolisoa, Fehi Fineanganofo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored two each as New Zealand cruised to a 40-12 win over a hard-working Japan in their opener.
Shotaro Tsuoka scored a stunner in response – overtaking two New Zealand defenders to chase down a beautifully weighted kick, but their chances were few and far between. Taiga Ishida repeated the kick-chase trick for a late consolation.
Moses Leo finished off arguably the try of the day in Wednesday’s final match, a 100-metre, multi-pass, coast-to-coast affair as New Zealand beat South Africa 17-5 in a physical encounter. He raced in a second time midway through the second half, while McGarvey-Black also scored.
POOL B
Australia and Argentina won both their matches to set themselves en route to the knockout phase.
A Henry Hutchison brace and one for Nathan Lawson helped Australia to a 21-14 victory over Samoa in the tournament’s opening match. But it was the Pacific Islanders who had the Stade de France crowd on their side, as Motu Opetai intercepted a pass to run in the competition’s first try from 50 metres.
After Hutchison and Lawson had put Australia clear, Faafoi Falaniko had the last word for Samoa, finishing a sweeping move to get the crowd on their feet again.
Australia later eased to a 21-7 win over a spirited Kenya – James Turner getting the scoreboard moving on the opening attack, with Lawson and Corey Toole also crossing.
Kenya had earlier lost 31-12 to Argentina, after taking the lead thanks to the pace of Chrisant Ojwang. Two Agustin Fraga tries either side of half-time handed the advantage to the South Americans, which they pushed home with three late touchdowns.
Argentina went two for two with a comfortable 28-12 win over Samoa. Matías Osadczuk scored twice, while Matteo Graziano, and Joaquin Pellandini also touched down.
POOL C
Fiji showed why they are double Olympic champions, while hosts France made hard work of the opening day.
Cheered on in a packed Stade de France, the hosts could not turn pressure into points against USA as the sides shared four tries in a hard-fought 12-12 draw, only the second in Olympic history after USA and Australia finished all-square in the women’s competition in Rio.
Les Bleus beat Uruguay 19-12 in their second and final outing of day one, but again made hard work of it – twice conceding the lead and surviving a nervy finish, as Ignacio Facciolo and Juan Gonzalez cancelled out tries from Antoine Zeghdar and Antoine Dupont, who showed tremendous strength to finish off a 75-metre move. Jefferson-Lee Joseph raced through the defence to put France into a winning lead.
Fiji kicked off their title defence with a statement 40-12 win over Uruguay. Joji Nasova scored twice, while Waisea Nacuqu, Iowane Teba, Ponepati Loganimasi, and Selesitino Ravutaumada got one apiece as they ran South American defenders ragged.
A second command performance followed as the sun went down, as Fiji staged a festival of attacking, offloading rugby to beat USA 38-12.
After Orrin Bizer put the Eagles ahead, Teba, Ravutaumada and Nacuqu all got their second tries of the day, while Kaminieli Rasaku, Josaia Raisuqe and Iosefo Masi got their names on the scoresheet, before Perry Baker scored a consolation try.
Meanwhile, rugby sevens ignited the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a spectacular first day of action in front of the largest single day crowd in rugby sevens history with 69,000 fans packed into Stade de France and millions more watching around the world.
SVNS league winners Argentina, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and double Olympic champions Fiji secured their places in Thursday’s quarter-finals with pair of opening day wins.
France superstar Antoine Dupont scored a vital try to help the hosts beat Uruguay after they began their campaign with a tense draw against the USA earlier in the day.
Paris 2024 Organising Committee President Tony Estanguet and New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup winner Dan Carter were among a host of famous faces present at Stade de France to witness the start of the sporting action at these Olympic Games.
The men’s sevens continues on Thursday with the final round of pool matches from 14:00 local time (GMT+2) before the quarter-finals begin at 20:00. Teams then take a rest on 26 July as the Games Opening Ceremony takes place before finals day on 27 July. The highly anticipated women’s competition runs from 28-30 July.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We wanted to get the Games off to a spectacular start, but, wow, today was special. A single-day record crowd for rugby sevens, an incredible atmosphere, and of course, scintillating rugby. Sevens brought its A game, and the world was watching.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the late Bernard Lapasset, who was instrumental in bringing rugby sevens to the Olympics and the Olympics to Paris. He would have loved today, and it was great to welcome his family here. I’m sure he was looking down on a packed Stade de France and smiling.”
France’s Antoine Dupont commented on the huge crowd support: “The atmosphere was good and helped us to win. Maybe we did not do our best but hopefully it is going to help us more in the next game.
“There were too many technical and tactical errors but we have to have hope. It is good to see that our mindset was good across the team. The essentials are there.
“We need to raise our level. If not, we will not go too far. We need to be focused on the game and not distracted because we are capable of better. In the last minutes we showed our mindset is strong.”
Fiji captain and double Olympic gold medallist Jerry Tuwai said: “The first game is always hard, our bodies were not that fired up yet. But we improved on that and we also improved the technical stuff, like how to handle the kick-off.
“We were given the opportunity to play well. Team USA is a very good team. We respect them and we knew that coming to the game they would give everything.”
Australia’s Mark Nawaqanitawase on returning to rugby sevens from 15s to compete at the Olympic Games: “It’s a bit of a shock to be back here at the Olympic Games, but this is such a great country for rugby so it’s pretty cool to be able to play the opening game of the tournament. I really want to do my country proud and bring back the gold medal.”
Argentina’s Gaston Revol said: “Both games were really tough as always. The first one against Kenya was complicated because in the first half, we could not get the ball.
“We had to defend a lot and they are strong, so we felt that intensity. But in the second half we started doing our things how we needed.
“Against Samoa, I think we had a great first half, good defence and very good positions. Perhaps we made some mistakes in the second and had to defend a lot but the balance is positive for us.”
On coming to the Games ranked world number one: “It is hard to be in this position. We know we are on the top of the table but we know how to manage it. We knew the games were going to be tough and we had to work a lot.”
On the reaction from the crowd: “The support of the crowd can be huge but on the pitch, we are seven against seven – that is the important thing. I like to play at these kinds of stadiums with full stands. If they are with us, it is very motivating, but when they are against us, as we could see they are here, it is also something to enjoy. It is nice to be a focus for all these people.”.
