Reigning Olympic champions Fiji reminded everyone exactly why they have two golds to their name on the opening day of the men’s rugby sevens competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, beating Uruguay and USA to book their place in the medal quarter-finals.
New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina and Australia have also secured their passage to the knockout phase with perfect starts on day one – but hosts France still have work to do to make sure of a place in the last eight, with USA chasing hard in a wide open Pool C.
POOL A
Ireland and New Zealand set up a Pool A decider on Thursday, with two wins apiece.
Terry Kennedy maintained his try-scoring record for Ireland, as they beat South Africa 10-5 in a tense affair to kick-off Pool A. Jordan Conroy also scored, while Selvyn Davids answered for the Blitzboks.
Kennedy, inevitably, got his second – a 75-metre solo run-in – to kick-start the Irish scoring against Japan late in the day. He turned provider for the first of Chay Mullins’ double with another lonely, long distance run. Captain Harry McNulty, Niall Comerford, Mark Roche and Zac Ward all contributed points to a 40-5 win.
Meanwhile, Akuila Rokolisoa, Fehi Fineanganofo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored two each as New Zealand cruised to a 40-12 win over a hard-working Japan in their opener.
Shotaro Tsuoka scored a stunner in response – overtaking two New Zealand defenders to chase down a beautifully weighted kick, but their chances were few and far between. Taiga Ishida repeated the kick-chase trick for a late consolation.
Moses Leo finished off arguably the try of the day in Wednesday's final match, a 100-metre, multi-pass, coast-to-coast affair as New Zealand beat South Africa 17-5 in a physical encounter. He raced in a second time midway through the second half, while McGarvey-Black also scored.
POOL B
Australia and Argentina won both their matches to set themselves en route to the knockout phase.
A Henry Hutchison brace and one for Nathan Lawson helped Australia to a 21-14 victory over Samoa in the tournament’s opening match. But it was the Pacific Islanders who had the Stade de France crowd on their side, as Motu Opetai intercepted a pass to run in the competition's first try from 50 metres.
After Hutchison and Lawson had put Australia clear, Faafoi Falaniko had the last word for Samoa, finishing a sweeping move to get the crowd on their feet again.
Australia later eased to a 21-7 win over a spirited Kenya – James Turner getting the scoreboard moving on the opening attack, with Lawson and Corey Toole also crossing.
Kenya had earlier lost 31-12 to Argentina, after taking the lead thanks to the pace of Chrisant Ojwang. Two Agustin Fraga tries either side of half-time handed the advantage to the South Americans, which they pushed home with three late touchdowns.
Argentina went two for two with a comfortable 28-12 win over Samoa. Matías Osadczuk scored twice, while Matteo Graziano, and Joaquin Pellandini also touched down.
POOL C
Fiji showed why they are double Olympic champions, while hosts France made hard work of the opening day.
Cheered on in a packed Stade de France, the hosts could not turn pressure into points against USA as the sides shared four tries in a hard-fought 12-12 draw, only the second in Olympic history after USA and Australia finished all-square in the women’s competition in Rio.
Les Bleus beat Uruguay 19-12 in their second and final outing of day one, but again made hard work of it – twice conceding the lead and surviving a nervy finish, as Ignacio Facciolo and Juan Gonzalez cancelled out tries from Antoine Zeghdar and Antoine Dupont, who showed tremendous strength to finish off a 75-metre move. Jefferson-Lee Joseph raced through the defence to put France into a winning lead.
Fiji kicked off their title defence with a statement 40-12 win over Uruguay. Joji Nasova scored twice, while Waisea Nacuqu, Iowane Teba, Ponepati Loganimasi, and Selesitino Ravutaumada got one apiece as they ran South American defenders ragged.
A second command performance followed as the sun went down, as Fiji staged a festival of attacking, offloading rugby to beat USA 38-12.
After Orrin Bizer put the Eagles ahead, Teba, Ravutaumada and Nacuqu all got their second tries of the day, while Kaminieli Rasaku, Josaia Raisuqe and Iosefo Masi got their names on the scoresheet, before Perry Baker scored a consolation try.
