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South Africa stun New Zealand as men’s Olympic sevens semi-finals set

Zain Davids #4, Rosko Specman #10 and Ronald Brown #3 of South Africa celebrate following victory during the Men's Rugby Sevens Quarter-Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The semi-final matchups for the men’s rugby sevens competition at the Paris Olympic Games are set after a series of famous knockout clashes at Stade de France on Thursday evening.

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Either South Africa, France, Fiji or Australia will take out the gold medal on the world’s biggest sporting stage after overcoming some fierce opposition in their respective quarter-finals.

Playing in front of a vibrant crowd at the world-famous sports venue, South Africa were the first team to progress after shocking arch-rivals New Zealand 14-7 in a thriller.

Moses Leo scored New Zealand’s only try of the match after breaking through a Rosko Specman tackle attempt on the stroke of half-time. But South Africa had already done some damage on the scoreboard and were good enough to hang on.

South Africa had lost to New Zealand and Ireland in pool play, but after beating Japan by a comprehensive margin on day two, they moved on to the quarters as one of the best third-placed sides.

That gave them a chance.

It doesn’t get any easier for the men from The Rainbow Nation who will take on France for a shot at a guaranteed medal. Antoine Dupont’s team got the better of SVNS League Winners Argentina 26-14 in what was a rematch of the Series’ Championship Final in Madrid.

Whoever wins that semi-final will claim either a gold or silver medal, while the loser will be left to scrap it out for a bronze medal against either Fiji or Australia.

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“We really wanted to make a clean and complete match, to play our game, which we haven’t done since the beginning of the tournament. I’m really proud of the team. When we struggle, it’s hard, but we did well tonight, France’s Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang said.

“Maybe we realised that we are playing the Olympic Games at home. Maybe we got back that hunger that we didn’t have on the first day. Argentina are a very physical team. We knew if we weren’t in the combat zone, we would not go through.

“I know we only won the quarter-final, but to play in a stadium like this. I never felt that in my life. To play in front of 69,000 people is something I could not imagine doing in my life.

“I know there is still a long way to go, but that moment gave us crazy emotions. I was almost in tears at the end. Thanks to the fans, I don’t have the words. Seeing 69,000 for a rugby sevens game, I think we destroyed the previous record by two or three times. I feel so honoured to be here.”

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Fiji took on Ireland in the third quarter-final and managed to leave with a win. It was a tense match with the defending two-time Olympic gold medallists only winning by a slender four-point margin.

Ireland will once again be left to rue what could’ve been. After a consistent season on the SVNS Series, they came into the Paris Games with genuine belief of challenging for a medal, but they’ll have to wait another four years to potentially be in this position again.

Fiji will take on Australia, who might just be the form team of the competition at the moment.

The Aussies went through pool play with an unbeaten run of three wins from as many starts, which included a victory against Argentina. But they saved maybe their best performance for the quarters in an 18-nil demolition of Perry Baker’s USA.

Men’s semi-finals from 2:30 pm local time

Fiji vs Australia

South Africa vs France

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24 Comments
J
Jv 118 days ago

Where are the videos of these matches?

M
MO 119 days ago

SA deserved the win, ABs were error prone and I believe a little complacent. I am assuming a Fiji vs France final, unless the Boks can destoy Dupont’s dream again.

W
WR 119 days ago

Well, on X they claim they beat SA by 2-1 and won the series against SA. Nevermind that it's 2 different competitions with completely different players, and a completely different country. AGAIN, they think that talking about it and claiming it, that they are the winners. That they DESERVE IT. Yet, as per usual, they CHOKED AGAIN in the quarterfinals. The Boks had 2 good games. That's it. The French is a different story altogether. They know how to reach a final. 2 games to go for either Gold or Bronze. Good news that, but coming in 4th don't get medals, so the Boks have to get in the final to be assured of a medal. It won't be easy. Only teams that CAN play is still in the competition, not teams that thinks talking themselves into a medal will get them a medal. Fiji is now the favorites would be my guess, but anyone can take it from here. Good luck Boks!! As usual you have my full support💯

W
WR 119 days ago

My comment disappeared

G
GrahamVF 119 days ago

The Irish are quarter finals specialists and specialists at losing the really important games. The second test against SA was a consolation prize. Their stated mission was another away series win against a SH team. Couldn’t do it.

L
LB 119 days ago

So the Irish supposedly won the (3-match) series against SA, but choked in the quarterfinals of a major tournament, AGAIN! I am really sorry to hear that…

C
CR 119 days ago

Suzie strikes again. Go Bokke!

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Bull Shark 11 minutes ago
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Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


Errors and Ommissions accepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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