Tokyo Olympics: Fiji win second consecutive rugby sevens gold after emotional 27-12 win over New Zealand
- Baber’s men capture the country’s second-ever Olympic medal, carrying on ex-coach Ryan’s fabled 2016 campaign
- After 18 months away from their families, captain Tuwai and Co were left in tears after the final in Tokyo
Magical Fiji defended their Olympic gold medal after overpowering New Zealand 27-12 in the men’s rugby sevens final at the Tokyo Stadium on Wednesday.
Gareth Baber’s side maintained their 100 per cent win record at the Games – continuing former coach Ben Ryan’s Rio 2016 campaign – to capture the country’s second-ever gold medal. Captained by legend Jerry Tuwai, they remain the only team to have done the “Sevens Treble” (Olympics, World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens winners).
The Fijians were in tears at the final whistle before chanting their national anthem in a huddle. Though it was a closer match than their 43-7 walloping of Great Britain in the final five years ago, they nonetheless put on a trademark dominant performance from the start.
Early tries from Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala set the tempo before Kiwi captain Scott Curry pulled one back with a powering run. Fiji’s Jiuta Wainiqolo extended the lead before New Zealand’s Sione Molia kept them in contention to go in 19-12 at half-time.
Fiji continued the offensive blitz into the second, though Clark Laidlaw’s side were able to neutralise any efforts until Asaeli Tuivuaka ploughed through to extend the league. By the time substitute Waisea Nacuqu converted his penalty goal, his teammates already dropped to the ground in emotion.
Silver medallists New Zealand will be upset they did not go all the way, but return home knowing they performed much better than their Rio 2016 campaign, in which they lost to Fiji in the quarter-final.
Argentina earned the bronze medal after a shock 17-12 win over Great Britain, thanks to tries from Lautaro Bazan Velez, overall top try scorer Marcos Moneta and Ignacio Mendy. It is a monumental achievement for former sevens star-turned-coach Santiago Gomez Cora, who crashed out in the quarters in Brazil as a player.
Placing fifth and sixth were South Africa and the United States, respectively, with the Blitzboks winning 28-7. Australia finished seventh after beating eighth-placed Canada 26-7 in the late session opener.
