Olympic Sevens, Men - Day Two

LIVE BLOGGING: Join us as we bring you updates from the Sevens tournament at the Paris Olympics.

New Zealand will face South Africa in the first of the quarterfinal matches, with Argentina up against hosts France next, defending champions Fiji facing Ireland and Australia against the United States completing the last-eight line-up.

Samoa, Japan, Uruguay and Kenya were reduced to playing for the minor placings – ninth and lower.

* On Day One reigning Olympic champions Fiji reminded everyone exactly why they have two gold medals to their name on the opening day of the competition, beating Uruguay and the United States to book their place in the medal quarterfinals.

New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina and Australia have also secured their passage to the knockout phase with perfect starts on Day One.

However, hosts France still have work to do to ensure a place in the last eight, with the United States chasing hard in a wide-open Pool C.

Below we bring you all the drama from Day Two at the iconic Stade de France.

Thursday, July 25

Semifinals

A resurgent South African team will lock horns with the host nation, France while Fiji will defend their gold against Australia.

QuarterfinalsNew Zealand 7 – 14 South Africa

It’s a rematch in the opening quarterfinal match between two old rugby foes in South Africa and New Zealand. The Blitzboks had to weather an early All Blacks storm to get the first score of the game with Selwyn Davids running at pace to break the defensive line for the try. South Africa would go on to score a second try with Davids involved again through a lengthy kick downfield and into space that he regathered and offloaded to Lleyds to score in the corner. New Zealand would keep the game hanging in the balance with a try from Leo before halftime as South Africa led by a converted try.

It would be a heroic effort by the South Africans on defense as neither team would score in the second half with the All Blacks coming awfully close to the try-line a number of times. The Blitzboks dug deep to produce an emphatic upset over New Zealand who had not lost in the competition and South Africa will now await to see with excitement who they face in the semifinals.

Argentina 14 – 26 France

A game that was too close to call as the hosts, France were in for a thrilling clash against Los Pumas. The French looked to turn the screws early into the match scoring three tries courtesy of Timo and a brace from Grandidier to lead at the halftime break by three unanswered tries.

Argentina would take until the second half to come into the game with tries coming from Isgro and Moneta as Los Pumas narrowed their deficit to a converted try. It would be Argentina’s defense which ultimately costs them the game giving away too many penalties that took up time as well as their momentum. All that was left is for France to kick the ball out but with the ball being in the hands of du Pont, the best player in the world would catch Los Pumas napping with a dash for the line to end the game on high for his team as they advance to the semifinals.

Fiji 19 – 15 Ireland

The defending champions were tasked with taking on the formidable Irish in a game that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Fiji dealt the first blow but were left trailing by three points at the break from a gutsy Irish attacking performance which saw them run in two tries of their own through Mullin and Mullins.

Fiji needed to put in a big shift in the second half as they went on to match the Irish with number of tries scored. It would be their more successful conversion rate and relentless defense that got them home in the end. The Irish were awarded penalty after penalty with time up on the clock but it took just one wrong pass to find the hands of a Fijian to kick the ball into touch and snatch the victory. Fiji now advance to the semifinals and maintain their perfect Olympic record.

Australia 18 – 0 United States

The last game of the quarterfinals was the expected battle between the Eagles and the Wallabies. Australia sprinted to a good lead at halftime after overcoming the initial back and forth tussle between two teams that are fluent on attack. Turner opened his team’s account before Toole extended the lead to ten points at the break for Australia.

The Australians would put on a clinical performance in the second half shutting the Eagles out with a clean sheet and scoring a try as well as a strategic penalty. They make light work of a very capable USA team and are into the semifinals to wrap up the first round of play-off games.

Ninth-place play-offsSamoa 42 – 7 Japan

It’s the Samoans taking on the Japanese in the first semi-final of the ninth-place play-offs. The pacific islanders would open the score with a vicious step off the left foot from Scanlan that sliced through Japan’s defense for the score. Scanlan then increased his team’s lead after a good steal from the ruck with no one in front of him to get his second try and a fourteen point lead for his team. The Brave Blossoms would sneak in their first try before the half with the diminutive Noguchi darting around the scrum of the Samoan 5m line to get over the line.

The second half would end up being a Samoan onslaught showing no mercy to score four more converted tries courtesy of Maliko, Leitufia, Maiava and Lalomilo which Japan had no answer to. Samoa now advance to the ninth-place final and while they may feel underwhelmed with their Olympic debut, they will surely be confident in snatching victory over their next opponents.

Uruguay 14 – 19 Kenya (AET)

A blockbuster encounter was had between these two sides looking to make the finals of the ninth-place play-offs. Uruguay went ahead in the opening minutes of the game from a well-worked team try that saw Tafurnaberry running a good line and taking an offloaded pass at pace to score for his team. The remainder of the first half would be helter skelter as Kenya continued to stay in the fight with one try being the difference between the teams at the break.

The Kenyan spark would eventually ignite in the second half. At first, with Okoth taking the gap at pace and winning the foot race and then with Asati off a quick-tap five meters away from the line. The game would go down to the wire with Uruguay having the last play with a scrum penalty on the Kenyan line which they took full advantage of leaving the game all square at full time and the Kenyans having to contend with a yellow-card going into extra-time. Kenya eventually came out on top with the golden point thanks to their former track-running superstar in Odongo who rounded the defender on his way to the try-line. Kenya can be proud of this come-from-behind victory that sees them up against the Samoans for ninth place honors.

Pool playSamoa 26 – 0 Kenya

It’s the Samoans and the Kenyan battling it out for a third place berth in Pool B. Samoa struck the first blow with Opetai needing no introduction to the try-line. The first half belonged to Samoa with one unconverted try separating the two teams as Kenya looked to stay in contention with some strong carries with the ball that just couldn’t quite get them over the line.

Samoa kept the pressure going into the second half with retaining possession from the restart followed by a few penalties that gave Scanlan an opportunity for a quick tap to catch the Kenyans off guard and get Samoa their second try. A yellow card late into the game added to Kenya’s woes which Samoa took full advantage of running in two more tries courtesy of Maliku and Onosai and that would be the ball game. Samoa keep their play-off hopes alive with an impressive start to Day two that puts them at the top of the third-placed team rankings with plenty of action to come.

Argentina 14 – 22 Australia

A crucial and highly anticipated clash between Los Pumas and the Wallabies to decide the front-runner in Pool B. Argentina were first to open up their account with Gonzalez racing away to get the last pass out to Schulz for the try as Australia looked to give a swift response. Argentina continued to keep Australia pinned in their own half but a useful kick-chase had Argentina frantically tracking back to their own line forcing a cynical foul to hand themselves a yellow card and the momentum back to Australia who would then capitalize on having the extra man to score two tries and take the lead before the break of play.

The start to the second half continued to go in favor of the Australians with Argentina making an error from the kick-off to carry the ball over their own line for Australia to get the scrum and swing the ball out wide to Roache to get in for Australia’s third try. Argentina would strike back next making good use of possession with Osadczuk using his long arms to stretch out and score some vital points for his team as one point separated the two teams with a few minutes left to play. Australia were able to close out the game with Malouf scoring one more time for the men down under as they finish top of their log to advance into the play-offs.

United States 33 – 17 Uruguay

It’s another survival match between two teams looking to keep their play-off hopes alive. The USA didn’t take long to get going with Perry Baker getting the ball on the wing, only needing a sniff of space to speed down the touchline for the first try of the match. Uruguay struck back next in the mask-wearing Amaya who bashed his way over the line followed by a second try by Basso as the South Americans looked poised to upset the Eagles. The USA would not take this lightly as they kept their noses out in front thanks to Lacamp who showed blistering pace to unselfishly setup Perry Baker for their second try and the lead at the halftime by two points.

Lacamp was at it again to score for the USA early in the second half to ensure that the favorites in this game were well in control. A hat-trick from Perry Baker would give the Eagles a comfortable lead from a Uruguayan mistake close to the try-line which cost them dearly not only through conceding points but a yellow card as well. Amaya would get in to score one more time for Uruguay to keep the match interesting but a special fourth try from Perry Baker would seal the victory for the USA as the fight for a third-place ranking continues to heat up.

Fiji 19 – 12 France

The crowd were in for a mouth-watering encounter between the hosting nation and the reigning champions with both teams going into this game unbeaten. France stunned the pacific islanders with the first try of the match coming from Nkanang but Fiji would quickly regather themselves to strike back with a classic Fijian finish through their Captain, Tuwai. The first half ended on level terms and everything on the line as spectators were left wondering when they would get to see the best rugby player in the world take the field.

The Fijians were the first to score in the second half with France making an unforced error in possession for Rasuku to canter his way to the try-line. This was now the time for France to call upon reinforcements as du Pont was introduced into the game. The Fijians would get home in the end for the victory with a third try in the corner by Nasova before France could get the last say with a try coming from Timo in overtime. Fiji finish the game as leaders of Pool C and continue their impressive unbeaten run at the Olympics.

South Africa 49 – 5 Japan

Both teams came into this game in search of their first win. South Africa started out the blocks with a punishing first half performance running in a staggering five tries notably with Oosthuizen bagging a brace. The Japanese looked shell-shocked with a mountain to climb as the South Africans were taking no prisoners in their final pool game.

The second half would see Japan finally get points on the scoreboard but an intercept try from Specman would keep the match firmly in control of the South Africans. The match ended with one more try coming from van Wyk as South Africa kept their chances at making the play-offs alive with an absolute masterclass that dramatically increases their point difference. This was certainly a performance that we’re accustomed to when watching the Blitzboks which we had not seen yet in this competition.

New Zealand 14 – 12 Ireland

Saving the best for last epitomized this final pool game between the All Blacks and the Irish. Ireland were given the first chance to attack from a set-piece move that just couldn’t go to hand but New Zealand’s ill-discipline at the breakdown gave Ireland another crack at scoring the first points of the match. Some fancy-footwork down the touchline saw Ward open his team’s account followed up by a try from Conroy to cap off a clinical first half performance for the Irish.

New Zealand went to work in the second half with Connors breaking a couple tackles to score the first pointa for his team as well as in the second half. The Irish would look to close out the game coming within inches of the try-line before a crucial penalty for holding-on handed New Zealand back the possession to score a 90m try with a successful conversion attempt that gave them the lead moments before the full-time siren. The New Zealand defense would then hold out with another penalty coming at the breakdown for a dramatic finish going the way of the All Blacks who finish top of their pool.

* To get the latest standings, CLICK HERE!

The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is coming to England. Register now here to be the first to hear about tickets.