World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “We have enjoyed a simply incredible day of Olympic Games rugby sevens”.
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Two Rugby World Cup winner’s medals with the All Blacks, a matching pair of titles in Australia’s National Rugby League, a Super Rugby title with the Waikato Chiefs and, of course, a WBA worldwide heavyweight belt.
Williams, wearing the black shirt of the country of his birth, barged into two Japanese tacklers nine minutes into his first match in Rio and ruptured his Achilles tendon.
“He’s obviously shattered and disappointed”, said New Zealand’s Olympic coach Gordon Tietjens. Joe Weber was also ruled out with a shoulder injury.
New Zealand’s day looked to be getting even worse when Collins Injera scored a try to give Kenya the early lead in their second Pool C match.
Both the All Blacks and Australia, whose women’s team won gold on Monday, rallied after the upsets to claim victories over Kenya and Spain respectively in their second matches.
He was the only one of a string of big name 15-aside players to declare their interest in playing sevens at the Olympics to have successfully negotiated the transition to lung-busting sevens format.
But they’ll have to do with one man down in the squad, with only one replacement allowed.
Williams has now been replaced by travelling reserve Sione Molia.
“For most of us this is our last sevens series, so this is our only chance to prove to the world that Japan can beat any team”, Japan back Lote Tuqiri said.
“They’re a good team”. “There are no given games these days”.
“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play sevens again but how long the injury keeps him out, I’m not too sure”, he said.
“He’s like a main weapon in the New Zealand team so that was our gameplan, just try to stop him, especially in offloading”.
“Sonny Bill’s a great professional, he’s very infectious, he certainly helps the younger players and has a great work ethic”.
Great Britain head coach Simon Amor said: ” It’s the first day at the Olympics for everyone.
Everything is going to plan for tournament favourites Fiji, winning its opening Group A games.
“We’ve struck an horrendous amount of injuries this year in the world series as well but there’s a lot of character in this team, I can assure you”.
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New Zealand’s defeat was not the only upset of a dramatic morning, with Australia opening their Pool B campaign with a 31-14 loss to France and Argentina beating the United States 17-14 with a last-second try.
