When Sonny Bill went off, it was a boost for us.
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“This Olympics is not only a world series, it is the highest level of any (sevens) competition”.
Now he’ll be sidelined for up to nine months with an injured Achilles tendon, ruling him out for the All Blacks in 2016.
The Japanese followed their historic victory over New Zealand and narrow defeat to Great Britain on day one with an impressive 31-7 victory over Kenya, while reigning HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series champions Fiji maintained their dreams of winning a first-ever Olympic Games medal for their nation by topping Pool A.
Kolinisau says it is fantastic to be in the Olympics for the first time and to have this opportunity.
Lemeki, the Olympic tournament’s top try-scorer, was born in Auckland of Tongan background but moved to Japan to play rugby seven years ago.
Without question the best two of the 12 teams in the tournament, both New Zealand and Australia had come through scares at the hands of the United States Sunday to stamp their authority on the semifinals. Rieko Ioane (NZL) of New Zealand tackles Seremaia Tuwai Vunisa (FIJ) of Fiji.
“I felt the will from the players”.
Britain topped Pool C, scoring three first-half tries and then conceding three in the second in a 21-19 win over New Zealand, and will meet Argentina in the knockout round.
“It was heartbreaking. We wanted that goal, so for the next game we’d know we’re going to quarterfinals”, Japan’s Lote Tuqiri said.
Back then, the men’s and women’s teams in the famous black shirts exerted a dominance over the shorter format of the game even more pronounced than that of the 15-a-side team in test rugby.
But they’ll have to do with one man down in the squad, with only one replacement allowed.
Gold-medal contender New Zealand was expected to easily account for Japan, but went behind quickly when Teruya Goto dived over in the left corner and Lomano Lemeki converted from out wide. The country also put up a spirited fight against Great Britain to lose 21-19.
“That’s not the same with any other team in this tournament, so they’re used to it”. “There are no given games these days”.
“A lot of people look down on us because we’re the U.S.”, Unufe said. Very infectious. He certainly helps the younger players.
“It’s pretty insane. We’ve been told we’ve got to turn our phones off between games”, he said.
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Williams, twice a World Cup victor in the 15-man game, sustained the injury charging into a tackle but immediately indicated to the bench that he needed help.
