A ding-dong battle that ended 24-19 to Fiji saw New Zealand’s hopes of making the last eight come down to United States skipper Madison Hughes’ final conversion.
Advertisement
However, that never came to pass as Kenya was given a reality check by Great Britain (31-7) and New Zealand (5-28) in their first two opening Pool C matches.
And pre-tournament favourites Fiji, who are coached by Englishman Ben Ryan, looked seriously in the mood as they brushed aside Brazil before making it two wins out of two by seeing off Argentina, albeit a much closer contest at 21-14.
T he first Olympic rugby gold medal in 92 years has gone to a group of Australian women that includes a mechanic, an elite former sprinter and a 21-year-old newcomer who has traveled around Rio de Janeiro carrying an inflatable kangaroo.
“The island life is a nice, chilled, laid-back one and if we are too easy-going, then the boys just drop off”.
Her partner, Lewis Holland, will represent Australia in the men’s rugby sevens tournament.
“They have got some great players and big ball carriers but we scrambled well”.
Japan’s Lomano Lemeki, is tackle by Britain’s Mark Bennett, during the men’s rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
The same team that beat New Zealand 14-12 in the group stage.
If Phelps can win the 200m IM, it will be his 13th individual career Olympic gold medal – breaking the record held by Leonidas set in the Ancient Olympics in 152 B.C.
Ioane crossed for New Zealand’s second but Kameli Soejima scrambled over to draw the scores level, Katsuyuki Sakai’s conversion pulling the Japanese two points clear for a famous win.
Team GB will face the Kiwis at 4.30pm before the four quarter-finals start at 9pm with the last of the matches beginning at 10.30pm.
“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”. “I thought we’d be lucky to make the quarters, let alone the semis”, he said.
“They’re a quality team”.
“We just had a slow start in that game, and also yesterday against Japan we battled early, but it just shows that if we build the ball and build some phases we’re good enough to put on points to any team”, he said.
“They had a lot of confidence after their victory earlier in the day (against New Zealand) so we had to play well”. “We’re No. 1 in the world, we’re not trying to be arrogant, we’re saying this is what we want”.
Advertisement
“I’m probably one of the most hated ones at the moment”.
