RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Japan’s shocking win over New Zealand and a tournament-ending injury to Sonny Bill Williams proved on the first day of Olympic men’s rugby in 92 years what coaches have always been saying about the sevens format.
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Williams has partaken in two Rugby World Cups, but it appears that Rio Olympics were a different beast as he nearly completely ruptured his Achilles tendon when he was tackling a Japanese team player.
The 27-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan is part of the Japanese team streaking towards an Olympic medal in Rio.
Making it more memorable, it was the first day in 92 years of men’s rugby competition at the Summer Games.
Japan’s Teruya Goto, back, is tackled by New Zealand’s Regan Ware, during the men’s rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
Great Britain’s rugby 7s side have reached the knockout stages of the Olympics after beating New Zealand 21-19 in the final group stage.
If an event involves a rugby ball, then a team from New Zealand can usually be backed for victory.
Australia’s men’s team, the Wallabies, have struggled against New Zealand’s famous All Blacks for more than a decade in the traditional 15-a-side game.
“We’re in the papers on the front and back pages – every night we’re in the 6 o’clock news”, he said.
New Zealand, who were stunned by Japan on the opening day, had further disappointment when they were beaten 21-19 by Great Britain in their final pool match on Wednesday.
Akira Ioane powered through some poor defense to give New Zealand a 12-7 lead not long after but the usually clinical team in black couldnt close out, and conceded a late try to Komeli Soejima which Katsuyuki Sakai converted for the win.
The Corinda resident made her worldwide debut in 2013 when she helped Australia win gold at the Youth Olympic Festival and was selected in the World Cup team.
Virimi Vakatawa had a quiet day on Tuesday, but burst into action with two tries in France’s 26-5 victory over Spain.
When Japan triumphed at the World Cup, they were led by now-England coach Eddie Jones as they won 34-32 in Brighton. The victor will play either Great Britain or South Africa in the final at 10am. I am still shocked, to be honest.
“We thought if we kept moving the ball around, the big guys would tire somewhere, and they eventually did”. Sevens is one of the games where a lot can happen in 14 minutes and the reason it is in the Olympics is because it is so exciting.
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The match had remained deadlocked through a highly entertaining 14 minutes with Argentina skipper Gaston Revol failing in his attempt to win the match with a drop kick penalty goal in the dying seconds.
