Men’s Event
Group A was won by New Zealand with an impressive +68 point difference. Behind them was Argentina who scored a 29-19 upset over Australia. Fiji won Group B ahead of Great Britain and Canada. Group C came down to the final game between South Africa and the United States. South Africa won 17-12. New Zealand was the first team into the semis with a 21-10 win over Canada. The USA took a 21-0 lead over Great Britain but Britain fired back to win 26-21. Argentina beat South Africa 19-14. In the first semi, New Zealand took a 14-7 lead over Great Britain at halftime. In the second half though New Zealand turned it on, scoring 15 more unanswered points. Similarly, Fiji were 14-12 down at halftime before scoring 14 unanswered points to set up the dream final. Less than a minute into the bronze medal match and Great Britain had taken a 5-0 lead but by half time Argentina led 12-5. A try by Ollie Lindsay-Hauge brought it to level with three minutes to go but Ignacio Mendy scored a superb solo try only to see the kick missed but still leading 17-12. Argentina managed to hold on to win a bronze medal. Fiji took an early lead in the final and at halftime led 19-12. Another try gave them a 12-point edge heading into the final minute.
🥇Fiji 🇫🇯
🥈New Zealand 🇳🇿
🥉Argentina 🇦🇷
Women’s Event
New Zealand started their group strongly but Great Britain pushed them in the second game. In Group B France beat Fiji who themselves beat Canada. France sealed the group with a 31-0 win over Fiji. Australia and the United States both won their opening games in Group C but Australia was more impressive. Australia opened quickly in the game to decide the heat, going 12-0 up only for the United States to hit back to win 14-12. New Zealand beat Russia 36-0 in the quarter-final. Fiji rushed into a 14-0 lead against Australia. Australia pulled it back to 14-12 but with only 30 seconds to go, Fiji kept the ball to qualify for the semi-final. Great Britain took a 21-0 lead in their quarter-final to take a comfortable win. France also got out to a big lead, going up 24-5 and seeing the game out. Fiji led New Zealand 7-5 at halftime. With two minutes to go the teams were tied at 12-12. New Zealand went 17-12 up with 30 seconds to go, only for it to be tied with a try, a minute after the clock expired for Fiji sending the game to extra time. In extra time it was New Zealand, keeping the ball for three minutes and scoring a try to make the final. France led at halftime 21-12. On the restart in the second half, France scored an early try. Britain hit back with a try of their own and although they would finish the game in the ascendancy it was too little, too late. Fiji took the early 7-0 lead and Britain would pressure them but the Fijian defence held strong. Against the run of play, they scored a breakaway try to go 14-0 up with Britain back to 14-5 at halftime. It was the offloads of Fiji that were causing Britain problems and a 21-5 lead with three minutes to go felt insurmountable. They cut it down to 21-12 but it was too late. New Zealand took a 19-5 lead at half-time and France could only bring it back to lose 26-12.
🥇New Zealand 🇳🇿
🥈France 🇫🇷
🥉Fiji 🇫🇯
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