At the forefront was the gargantuan shock from Japan as they defeated New Zealand, a match which saw superstar Sonny Bill Williams pick up an Olympics-ending injury.
Advertisement
New Zealand had a missed American conversion to thank as they scraped into the maiden Olympic rugby sevens quarter-finals by a solitary point on points difference.
A despondent Williams was taken to a hospital and medical tests showed a partially ruptured Achilles tendon, which is expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to nine months, ruling him out for the All Blacks in 2016.
The Japanese, ranked 10th of the 12 teams at the tournament and hosts of the next Olympics, picked up where they left off on Tuesday with a 31-7 thumping of world sevens series regulars Kenya to ensure they would be in the last eight.
“It is an fantastic opportunity for us to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games so this has been a very special opportunity for us”.
Williams is likely to be replaced by Chiefs centre Anton Lienert-Brown in the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad.
However, Dickson insisted New Zealand are still in the running for gold despite losing Williams and two of their three games so far in Rio.
All Offers and Promotions posted in this article excludes NSW residents.
“We wanted to get a win (against New Zealand) but did not, so we have to focus on the match against Japan”, he said.
Hughes said the nature of the fast and furious sevens game ensured any team could win the gold medal.
Japan produced the biggest upset ever at the Rugby World Cup with a win over South Africa in the group stage past year in the marquee tournament in the 15-a-side game.
“We’re coming here, not just to make up the numbers”, said forward Lote Tuqiri.
“Sonny Bill’s a great professional, he’s very infectious, he certainly helps the younger players and has a great work ethic”.
In echoes of their victory over South Africa at the Rugby World Cup previous year, the Japanese showed no deference to the superpower of the worldwide game, both on and off the pitch.
“There were a few things we didn’t get right in that one and they are very good side”.
New Zealand’s defeat was not the only upset of a dramatic morning, with Australia opening their Pool B campaign with a 31-14 loss to France and Argentina beating the United States 17-14 with a last-second try. But after that it was all New Zealand as they received penalty try after hero-cum-villain Injera tackled too high and was given a yellow card.
Advertisement
Scott Curry and Akira Ioane scored tries for New Zealand. It just came down to that one mistake.
