French deny Fiji triple-crown history

Fiji rugby sevens' unbeaten run at the Olympic Games ended on Sunday, New Zealand time, following their defeat to France 28-7 in the final.

The two-time champions - Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020 - had never lost an Olympic match with 17 out of 17 wins, going into the final.

France won their first medal of the Paris games and first gold in sevens after a dominating performance in the four-tries-to-one victory.

French 15s superstar Antoine Dupont scored two tries and set up another before 70,000 screaming fans in the Stade de France.

The crowd certainly had a great time. It was a successful night for the home side.

Fiji men's rugby sevens team has won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Photo/ONOC

The Stade was a sight to behold when Dupont orchestrated the hosts' 19-5 win against South Africa in their semi-final. The fans went berserk with shouts of "Dupont, Dupont".

It was a similar scenario in the final as the Fijians tried to quieten the home crowd which was still in full voice with their Allez les Bleus chants ringing across the stadium.

Fiji took the lead striking first through Josese Talacolo, who scored under the posts for an easy conversion attempt for Iowane Teba.

But France hit back before the break thanks to Jefferson-Lee Joseph. The high penalty count cost the Fijians.

The second half was all about Dupont, who scored a brace of tries and set up Aaron Grandidier Nkanang for another. Rayan Rebbadj, Paulin Riva (2), and Jean-Pascal Barraque kicked all four conversions.

Fijian captain Jerry Tuwai kept his cool, showing great leadership and experience to lead his team against the more fancied Frenchmen.

“It’s been an honour to lead these boys and I’m blessed and happy for their performance and achievement," an emotional Tuwai told the waiting media.

“France is a good team. I had said on day one that although we beat France in the pool game, they are playing at home and will be dangerous.

“We expected a good game from them. It was a very tough game. We both came to win.

Fiji's Selestino Ravutaumada stops a French attack during their pool game on Friday which Fiji won 19-12. France came back to beat the Fijians in the final 28-7. Photo/World Rugby

“It’s been a long road to Paris for us. We have been away from home, from our families for months," Tuwai said.

The two sides met earlier in pool play on Friday with the Fijians coming out on top 19-12.

The French despite boasting Dupont in their ranks, had little answer to Fiji’s power, pace, defence and flair.

But the hosts turned the tables on the Fijians in the final.

South Africa clinched the bronze medal, beating Australia 26-19.

With World Rugby organisers expecting a record 550,000 fans in the Stade de France over six days, chief executive Alan Gilpin has described the rugby sevens competition as a “coming of age” event for the sport.

This is the Pacific’s sixth Olympic medal.

In 1996, Tongan super heavyweight boxer Paea Wolfgramm won silver - the region’s first-ever Games medal in Atlanta. Wolfgramm faced Ukrainian Vladimir Klitschko, who turned professional after the Atlanta Games and went on to become world heavyweight champion.

In 2008, Sāmoan weightlifter Ele Opeloge finished fourth in the women’s +75kg division. But in 2016, the silver and bronze medallists were stripped of their medals for doping and Opeloge was awarded the silver.

In 2016, Fiji men’s rugby sevens won the gold in Rio and defended their title in Tokyo in 2020 while the Fijian women’s team scooped the bronze medal. A public holiday was announced after the Rio win.

A screen grab on SkySports of New Zealand's Ngā Pou Hapai, flagbearers, track cyclist Aaron Gate and sailing athlete Jo Aleh, during the opening ceremony on Saturday.

Road to the Paris final

Fiji and France secured their spots in the gold medal match on a thrilling night of knockout rugby.

The Fijians defeated Australia 31-7 in their semi-final after a resounding second-half performance.

The Australians took an early lead but Fiji was far superior in the end.

Australia scored the first try of the match through Ben Dowling in the fifth minute for a 7-0 lead.

Fiji responded through a try to Joji Nasove, who broke through the defence and ran almost the entire length of the field to tie the game at 7-all at halftime. Iowane Teba kicked the conversions and it was all tied up.

The Fijians brought out their hierarchy and physical power in the second half to generate a thrashing on the Aussies, securing the defending champions their place in the final.

Tries to Josefa Baileiwariki, Terio Tamani Veilawa, and Super Rugby Drua stars Iosefo Masi, Kaminieli Rasaku, and Selestino Ravutaumada, sealed Fiji’s victory.

In the other semi-final, France’s defensive power proved too strong for the South Africans to book their spot in the final.

The first half saw no points scored as both teams defended their trylines desperately.

Fiji's flagbearers, Women’s Rugby 7s captain Raijeli Daveua and sailor Viliame Ratulu. Photo/ONOC

The second half saw some spark with Tristan Leyds going over the tryline for the Blitzboks, giving the South Africans a 5-0 lead.

But the French responded with two tries from Rayan Rebbadj to put the men in red, white, and blue ahead 14-5.

Jordan Sepho then put the nail in the coffin as he crossed over for the hosts’ final try.

South Africa earlier ended New Zealand’s medal hopes with a defensive masterclass in their quarter-final before France and their best rugby proved too good for favourites and HSBC Sevens League champions Argentina.

Ireland came close to upsetting the Fijians in their quarter-final before the Aussies eased past the USA.

South Africa 14-7 New Zealand

The Blitzboks - the lowest-seeded team in the quarter-finals, pulled off a surprise 14-7 win over Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalists and Pool A winners New Zealand to book their place in the last four.

South Africa led 14-0 at halftime through tries to captain Selvyn Davids and Tristan Leyds.

Moses Leo pulled New Zealand back into the game with a try but the Kiwis could not break the South African defence that kept the men in black at bay.

South Africa overcame Argentina 26-14 in their quarter-final.

The French rugby sevens side sing their national anthem, La Marseillaise, in the final. The team went on to win the host nation's first medal at the Games. Photo/World Rugby

France 26-14 Argentina

With a packed Stade de France cheering them on, France showcased top rugby, racing into a 21-0 first-half lead against the Argentines.

Andy Timo scored the hosts’ first try after four minutes. And Aaron Grandidier Nkanang scored twice to get the fans on their feet.

Rodrigo Isgró pulled one back for Argentina early in the second half, and Marcos Moneta added a second with two minutes left on the clock after Jordan Sepho was sin-binned to set the French voices off.

But the Les Bleus Sevens kept hold of the ball for the closing moments and Dupont ghosted through a gap for the final word.

Fiji 19-15 Ireland

The Fijians made it 16 wins from 16 Olympic matches but only after the Irish gave them an almighty scare in their quarter-final.

Two first-half tries from Chay Mullins and Zac Ward’s superb run-in early in the second spell looked to have set Ireland well on their way to the shock of the tournament. This came not long after Iosefo Baleiwairiki scored the game’s opener for Fiji.

But the Fijians weren’t going away as Joji Nasova and Waisea Nacuqu scored to overturn an eight-point deficit. This was by far the biggest scoreline Fiji had to overcome in a knockout match at the Games to book their spot in the semi-final.

Watch PMN's Olympics Correspondent James Nokise's full interview below.

Australia 18-0 USA

Tries from James Turner and Corey Toole were enough for the Australians to book their place in the last four for the first time.

A well-drilled Australia proved too strong for Mike Friday’s American outfit.

Maurice Longbottom kicked a rare penalty – only the third in men's Olympic history – to confirm Australia’s place in the semis. And he scored a late try.

Earlier, Sāmoa’s Paul Scanlan scored two of their six tries for their first win of the Olympic Games, beating Japan 42-7 and book their spot in the ninth-place play-off against Pool A rivals Kenya, who beat Uruguay 19-14.

But Sāmoa lost to Kenya 10-5 and ended the tournament in 10th place. New Zealand defeated Ireland 17-7 to finish in fifth spot.

The Women’s Rugby Sevens competition gets underway on Monday with Fiji, bronze medallists in Tokyo, taking on Canada at 3.30am (NZ Time) and China at 7am. New Zealand faces China at 4am and Canada at 7.30am. The Kiwis will take on the Fijians on Tuesday at 2.30am.

Rugby Sevens kicked off on 25 July (NZ time) but the Games’ official opening ceremony was held on 27 July.

More than 10,000 athletes - 44 of them from nine Pacific island countries - are in Paris. China won the first two medals in shooting and diving at the Games.

The Paris Olympics ends on 12 August.

PMN's Olympics coverage is proudly brought to you by the Pasifika Medical Association Group.