New Zealand’s podium hopes were dashed after a 12-7 loss to Fiji in the quarter-finals, and they only managed one win during the tournament.
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“We’ve got one aim, and that’s to win a gold medal”.
By contrast, the footballers’ fortune in qualifying for the Games turned into a nightmare as they begin a long journey home having conceded 23 times in three matches in Brazil.
The All Blacks Sevens have been knocked out of the men’s sevens tournament in Rio. A dubious honour held by France and Russian Federation for 17-1 and 16-0 beatings at the hands of Denmark and Germany in 1908 and 1912 respectively.
“I can’t explain it, we just train hard and somehow put it together on the pitch”, said Japan’s New Zealand born Lomano Lemeki.
Diana Taurasi and her USA teammates knew they’d be in for a test against Serbia.
The elimination of the two heavyweights brought the Fijian dream of a first-ever Olympic medal closer to reality, but the islanders must first overcome the surprising Japanese, who followed their pool stage win over New Zealand by toppling France in the quarter-finals through a last-minute try to their go-to man, Teruya Goto.
Some critics have questioned the Fijian players’ ability to handle pressure, particularly at the Olympics where the entire population of the Pacific island nation will be watching or listening to every moment of every game.
Fiji defied the wet conditions by opening the match with a magnificent move that took them from under their own posts to the New Zealand line in series of charges and handoffs, captain Osea Kolinisau touching down. “I don’t know what’s happening here”.
“Playing the number one seed, we had chances there to perhaps win it, yeah it’s tough to take but it is what it is and we’ve got to get on with it”.
Lemeki said the players had been instructed to turn off their phones because they were getting so many messages of support from Japan and their success had also raised their profile in the Athletes Village.
In the other quarter final matches, Great Britain defeated Argentina, while South Africa blitzed Australia 22-5. “Silver will be as disappointing as bronze or fourth place”.
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“I could talk to him about why we had a two-man lineout in defence and he’ll give me some rugby knowledge”.
