Japan’s Kameli Soejima, scores a try during the men’s rugby sevens match against New Zealand at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Aug. 9.
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The highest-profile player in rugby’s return to the Olympics after 92 years, Williams carried the ball into a tackle early in the second half, then stayed on the ground holding his left ankle before being helped from the field.
Lemeki says Japan are now daring to dream and he joined the chorus of rivals suggesting world series champions Fiji, who have never won and Olympic medal of any colour, will struggle to cope with the expectations and pressure.
“It is the hardest sport that I have ever tried”.
The All Black Sevens let themselves down with poor handling while the underdog Japanese skillfully controlled the majority of the game by slowing it down to their pace and not allowing the second seeds get into rhythm. “There are no given games these days”.
The Japanese followed it up with a 21-19 loss to Britain, missing a late kick to draw that match, and an impressive 31-7 victory over Kenya to set up a playoff against France – just one win away from the medal round.
“Sometimes it’s unsafe to set out outcome goals as a coach”.
Hughes skewed it wide and the All Blacks advanced as the second of the two third-place finishers with just a point better difference than the United States team.
“Sometimes it’s unsafe to set out goals as a coach, but we’re number one in the world, we’re not trying to be arrogant, we’re saying this is what we want”.
“He’s obviously shattered and disappointed”, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said.
“There were a few things we didn’t get right in that one and they are very good side”.
“I used to do track running when I was younger, and rugby sevens is like running a 400m – but on steroids”, Caslick said on The Big Sports Breakfast. “Silver will be a disappointment as bronze and fourth place”.
Lemeki said Japan was taking an “if we lose, we lose, if we win, we win” attitude into each game.
“I don’t know what happened”.
The result mirrors last autumn’s Rugby World Cup, when a Japan team coached by current England supremo Eddie Jones beat South Africa 34-32 in Brighton.
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After another close match against Britain in Rio, narrowly losing 21-19 due to a scuffed conversion after the final whistle, Tuqiri said rugby could soon challenge some of Japan’s more popular sports such as soccer.
