Rugby Sevens: France secures gold in Paris

Antoine Dupont (R) scores a try. GETTY IMAGES

Men’s Rugby Sevens is the first team sport to be decided in Paris 2024. And the result was what the tournament organisers had hoped for. France beat Fiji, who had won gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, in the final.

Antoine Dupont is the French hero of the day. Used to the classic version of Rugby, he decided to switch to Rugby Sevens to play the Olympic Games at home and in the final he was key to France winning gold.

The match started with Fiji very strong, scoring a try to calm France’s spirits. The Stade de France kept pushing their players on. There was still a lot of game left to play, but it looked as if it would be difficult to beat the Oceania team, who had never lost a match in the history of the Olympic Games. This discipline was added to the Olympic programme at Rio 2016, and so far they have been unbeatable.

Still, in the first half, France took advantage of a gap in the centre of the defence for Jefferson-Lee Joseph’s try. The hosts managed to take the match level at half-time, 7-7.

Right at the start of the second half, Dupont made a sensational run down the left flank and gave the ball to team-mate Paulin Riva for the try. The temperature, despite the rainy day, was steadily rising in the stands. And Dupont saved the best for last. He fooled the Fiji defence by taking a penalty kick with his foot and sneaking over the try-line in what looked like the game’s doom. When the French victory was already evident, Dupont closed the game with yet another try.

France, in the men’s category, had yet to win a medal in Rugby Sevens but they have chosen the best scenario to win their first one at the Stade de France.

Fiji has once again shown an extraordinary level. In the group stage, they managed to beat France, and all the opponents who came their way fell to the might of this team. They only failed in the last seven minutes of the tournament. They did not win gold but they did win medals in the men’s tournament. Two golds and a silver.

The bronze medal went to South Africa in a very exciting match. A try with time running out was enough to win the match. And with a very nice gesture. Selvyn Davids managed to break through the Australian defence and went all the way to the try line, but there he gave the ball to his team-mate Shaun Williams to put the ball down. Siwive Soyizwapi converted the conversion to end the game 26-19.

With four minutes to go, the South Africans were behind on the scoreboard. But Australia were down to six men when Nick Malouf was sent off. He was red-carded for a dangerous high tackle and left his team in a critical situation. South Africa took advantage to score two tries in quick succession to go 19-7 up. It looked like a settled game.

However, Australia were at their best at that point. Corey Toole came up with a wonderful follow-up kick that ended in a try. South Africa failed to hold on to the next possession and the Aussies found a gap down the right side that ended in a try for Henry Paterson. 

South Africa celebrates the Men’s Rugby Sevens Bronze Medal. GETTY IMAGES
South Africa celebrates the Men’s Rugby Sevens Bronze Medal. GETTY IMAGES

The game was tied at 19 all and there were only seconds left in regulation time. Dietrich Roache had to convert his kick at the posts to put Australia ahead, but it went just wide to the left. In the final play, they ended up losing.

Australia had not looked the best in the tournament. But they won all three of their Pool B matches, and in the quarter-finals, they had a comfortable win over the USA. In the semi-finals, they had no chance against Fiji, and in the last game against South Africa, the bronze slipped through their fingers.

South Africa has had a lot of problems. They lost to Ireland and New Zealand, but a comprehensive victory over Japan saw them qualify. The final group stage qualification meant they had to play New Zealand again in the quarter-finals. 

There, the Blitzboks were at their best. Their great defence managed to stop the All Blacks from reaching the semi-finals. But then hosts France came along to stop them in their tracks. The 19-5 defeat sent them to the bronze match, where they triumphed. South Africa repeated their Rio 2016 result.

The men’s tournament was a testament to the importance of rugby in France. The Olympic Stadium has been the venue and has seen three days of competition with full stands.

Now it’s time for the women’s tournament. It takes place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, in the same stadium, with New Zealand defending their Tokyo 2020 gold. France, the hosts, were silver three years ago. Once Rugby is over, the Stade de France will be free to host the Games’ king of sports, Athletics.



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