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.
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When Japan triumphed at the World Cup, they were led by now-England coach Eddie Jones as they won 34-32 in Brighton. Now it’s the Olympics.
New Zealand’s hopes of becoming the first Olympic rugby sevens champions suffered a devastating double blow on Tuesday when they lost their opening match to Japan and Sonny Bill Williams for the tournament to an Achilles injury.
“But that’s sevens rugby, the gap has closed considerably and if you’re not up for it on the day, you’ll be beaten”.
With the likes of former IRB Player of the Year and World Cup victor Byran Habana, along with the highly fluctuating talent of Quade Cooper having failed in their ventures of making it to Rio, one would do well to remember the difficulty of not only adapting to and excelling in the highly challenging parameters of sevens, but also in making the most successful squad of all time in the game.
Teruya Goto and Kameli Soejima scored the tries for Japan and, crucially, Lemeki and Katsuyuki Sakai slotted the conversions.
Asked if he thought the Kiwis had taken the Japanese too lightly, Lemeki said: “I think they might have, but I don’t think they’ll be doing that again!”
In a third blow, Joe Webber was taken off the pitch on a stretcher with a dislocated left shoulder soon after Williams but, having already used the one replacement they are allowed, New Zealand have kept him in the squad. “There are no given games these days”.
No. 2-ranked South Africa had a more conventional run, and overturning an earlier loss to Australia in a 22-5 quarterfinal win to set up a semifinal match against Britain, which needed a try in golden-point extra time from Dan Bibby to edge Argentina 5-0.
Williams had only recently signed a three year deal to play Super Rugby for the Blues but due to his commitments to NZSevens was never in contention for the first Rugby Champioship Tests.
“We’ve got one aim and that’s to win gold medal, not silver or bronze”. “Look what the 15s did in the World Cup”.
Australia’s rugby sevens star Charlotte Caslick has suggested coaching guru Ric Charlesworth try playing the sport after labelling the Olympic women’s competition a “soft event”.
“We’re coming here, not just to make up the numbers”.
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“Wednesday’s morning session will be compelling viewing and it speaks volumes about the competitiveness of sevens when we go into day two with nine teams competing for the eight quarter-final places”.
