Tokyo (AFP)
The Fijians, already crowned in Rio-2016, won a new gold medal on Wednesday at Tokyo Stadium by beating (27-12), in the final of the men's Sevens Olympic tournament, New Zealand, world champion in title, Argentina taking bronze.
The Fijians set the bar very high from the start, scoring two tries in a row (12-0), before the All Blacks, by their captain Scott Curry, replied (12-5).
Advocating a more whimsical rugby, with players literally flying on the field, such Jiuta Wainiqolo, author of the third attempt of the Iliens in the first period, the Fijiens logically led to the break (19-5).
At the return of half-time, the All Blacks, with a more "classic" game and therefore more readable, recovered with a try from Sione Molia (19-12), before the Fiji, on a superb counter-attack, n 'drive home the point with a try from Asaeli Tuivuaka (24-12), confirmed by a penalty in the last seconds of Waisea Nacuqu (27-12).
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Winner of the last world circuit, New Zealand, which had finished only in 5th place in the previous Olympic tournament and which was aiming for a medal, now relies on its women's team to win gold, as the "Black Ferns" also let Rio escape, losing in the final against the Australians.
After their victory, the Fijians, knees on the ground and entwined in a circle on the lawn, recited a prayer before receiving their gold medal and singing in chorus on the podium.
In the "small" final, Argentina, 6th at Rio-2016 in 2016 and who had dismissed the South Africans in the quarter-finals, created the surprise by dominating (17-12) Great Britain, medalist of silver five years ago, to win bronze.
This is Argentina's first medal since the start of the Tokyo Games.
Led by their young 21-year-old prodigy Marcos Moneta, author of 6 tries during this tournament and gold medalist at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018, the Pumas made their swirling audacity speak for the British without a solution.
The women's tournament begins on Thursday.
© 2021 AFP