Rugby is back in the Olympics for the first time since 1924, but in the condensed sevens format and with men’s and women’s competitions.
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The next day, the US squad almost upset top-seeded Australia, and then lost to New Zealand by just one try.
New Zealand, who had two tries from the outstanding Kayla McAlister and one at the death from Portia Woodman, performed a tearful haka in front of the crowd at the end of the match, their dreams of gold shattered.
“It was a typical trans-Tasman battle”, Australia co-captain Shannon Parry said, referring to the intense sporting rivalry between her country and neighboring New Zealand.
Without question the best two of the 12 teams in the tournament, both New Zealand and Australia had come through scares at the hands of the United States on Sunday to stamp their authority on the semi-finals.
Australia beat Canada 17-5 and New Zealand beat Britain 25-7 in the women’s semifinals to set up the long-anticipated decider.
The men’s tournament begins at the Deodoro Stadium on Tuesday.
With Woodman cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline, Australia scored again after the break as Caslick made a break, finding Emilee Cherry who had speedster Ellia Green outside to run in a third try to stretch their lead to 17-5. It’s Canada’s second medal in a team sport in as many Games after the women’s soccer team captured bronze four years ago in London.
Welsh winger Jasmine Joyce, the sole non-English player in Britain’s team, pulled a five-pointer back, but Landry had the last laugh with her second as the Canadians claimed a measure of revenge for their loss to England in the 15-a-side women’s Rugby World Cup final in 2014. Landry added the final try to leave Canada celebrating a bronze medal after a 33-10 victory.
That lead had been wiped out within seconds of the restart, though, when Alev Kelter converted her own try and the United States of America never looked back once Jessica Javelet had left the French defence in her wake down the touchline.
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Spain, the final team to qualify for Rio 2016 as repechage winners, ended their Olympic campaign on a winning note with a 21-0 defeat of a tired-looking Fiji to claim seventh place overall. “The girls showed Canada how good they really are and this medal means a lot to me”. Monday’s victory avenged a 12-7 defeat the Americans suffered to Fiji in the opening game of the Summer Olympics.
