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Fiji men off to a perfect start in the pursuit of another Olympic gold
By Finn Morton
Two-time defending men’s Olympic gold medallists Fiji have gotten off to a perfect start on day one at the Paris Games after dispatching Uruguay 40-12 and USA 38-12 in one-sided contests.
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With the roar of 80,000 fans at Stade de France echoing throughout the world-famous venue, the Fijians put on an attacking clinic in their first Pool C clash against Uruguay. Uruguay are no easy beats either, so this was a statement to kick things off.
The Uruguayans earned core status for next year’s SVNS Series season after winning a playoff during the Grand Final event at Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano last month. They were consistently one of the teams to beat on the Challenger Series before that.
But Fiji, who haven’t won an international sevens competition in 22 events, reminded everyone why they’re a team to be feared and admired on the biggest stage of all. This result was the second-largest winning margin on the day, while their win over the USA was third.
Fiji were widely expected to beat the South Americans but the Eagles Sevens present another challenge. While the USA were also competing in those playoffs in Madrid they’ve got a history of taking it to the best teams in the world.
The USA has beaten New Zealand a couple of times this season and have claimed some other big wins on the Series. But consistency hasn’t been their friend and that once again proved to be their Achilles heel at the Games.
After drawing with SVNS Series champions France 12-all in their opening match, the Americans shot out of the blocks against Fiji. Lucas Lacamp was dragged down along the right wing before they spread the ball wide – finding Orrin Bizer who scored.
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Bizer scored less than a minute into the contest. Fiji’s Iowane Teba missed a one-on-one tackle near the left sideline which allowed the No. 3 to stroll in for the opening score of this blockbuster Pool C clash.
But then Fiji took control.
Teba made amends to score less than 20 seconds after Fiji gathered possession off the restart. Off the next kick-off, an error from the USA gifted the Fijians the ball, and they made the most of it with Kaminieli Rasaku crossing.
In a blind and you’ll miss it passage of play, Fiji had raced out to a 12-7 lead.
Selestino Ravutaumada raced away for a runaway score moments after the next restart, before Rasaku added another. But before the half was done, an error from USA captain Kevon Williams allowed Iosefo Masi to score.
Fiji led 33-5 at the break.
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The match was practically over.
There were only two tries scored in the second term with Waisea Nacuqu adding to Fiji’s lead before USA sevens veteran Perry Baker had the final side with a trademark try. The match ended soon after, bringing an end to Fiji’s perfect day in Saint-Denis.
“A lot of things that happened a few months ago, it hurts me, it hurts me to my core that I was not able to compete on the SVNS Series,” two-time gold medallist Jerry Tuwai said on the Olympics broadcast after the first match.
“But I never lost hope. I always believed that I could make another Olympics.
“A few months later, I’m here. I just played my first game so it’s a blessing.
“It was never my dream. Rugby was not in the Olympics,” he added. “After the first Olympics, I thought to myself, ‘I can do it again.’ And after the second, ‘I can do it again.’
“Now in my third, I don’t know if I’m going to go again after this but it’s all in God’s hands.”
Fiji will take on Antoine Dupont’s France early on Friday morning (Fiji time) to determine who comes out on top in Pool C.
