The Game Changer

Rio 2016 has been a true game changer for 7s. Mark Egan, Head of Competitions and Performance (World Rugby), explains why. 

#Rio 2016 | Views | Legacy of Rio 2016

Pic: World Rugby

After a phenomenal and electrifying inaugural Olympic appearance, rugby experts are wondering if 7s success will help or hinder the 15s-a-side game? 

In the latest edition of “The Rugby Paper”, columnist Colin Boag expresses concerns as the legacy of Rio 2016 “will be further widen the gap between Sevens and 15s” he suspects. “The Sevens boys will become even more specialists, focussing on their lucrative globe-trotting circuit”, the author continues. 

Boag describes the two disciplines (7s and 15s) as “chalk and cheese”, arguing that 7s is played by a “specific subset” and therefore it is not a game for the “fat boys”, which consequently strikes at the heart of rugby’s ethos that it’s “a game for all shapes and sizes”. He underlines these arguments with pointing out that “rugby without proper scrums just isn’t rugby”.

Although the article contains some strong views about 7s, Boag identifies the positives about the new Olympic sport, saying that 7s is “made for the modern age, as it doesn’t put a strain on the viewers’ attention span” and notices the great entertainment value which “…is provided in bite-sized chunks - there are none of those gaps in play that so frustrate commentators”. 

With the Olympic fairy tale behind us, World Rugby faces the great challenge to “maintain the link to 15s” a challenge which will keep growing with the increasing success of the sport which Boag compares as the “burger” from the high-street chain, as opposed to 15s which in his view is the “juicy steak” in a proper restaurant.

Burger or steak? What is your view? Comment below.   

#Rio 2016 | Recap Day 3 | Men's Sevens

Pic: World Rugby

Three days after the Australian women’s team won the first-ever Olympic rugby sevens tournament, Fiji secured the Gold medal in the men’s competition. 

The flying Fijians dominated Great Britain in the final by producing a sublime performance resulting in a 43-7 victory on late Thursday evening. It was in every aspect a historical win as the team not only won the inaugural Olympic sevens men’s competition, but also the first-ever medal for their country in any sport.   

RESULTS  DAY 3

MATCH 25

12:30

11.08.

BRA

0

v

24

KEN

MATCH 26

13:00

11.08.

USA

24

v

12

ESP

MATCH 27

13:30

11.08.

NZL

24

v

19

FRA

MATCH 28

14:00

11.08.

ARG

26

v

21

AUS

MATCH 29

14:30

11.08.

FIJ

20

v

5

JPN

MATCH 30

15:00

11.08.

GBR

7

v

5

RSA

MATCH 31

17:30

11.08.

FRA

12

v

10

AUS

MATCH 32

18:00

11.08.

NZL

17

v

14

ARG

MATCH 33

18:30

11.08.

RSA

54

v

17

JPN

MATCH 34

19:00

11.08.

GRB

7

v

43

FIJ

In front of more than 10,000 spectators including Fijians Prime MInister Frank Bainimarama at the Deodoro Stadium, Ben Ryan’s team showcased perfect 20 minutes of 7s by scoring seven tries through Osea Kolinisau, Jerry Tuwai, Jasa Veremalua, Leone Nakarawa, Vatemo Ravouvou, Josua Tuisova  and Viliame Mata. 

Team GB, who just came together for the first time a few weeks ago, played a superb tournament until the final without a single loss. However, in the Gold-final it was all about the double World Series Champions. 

Especially in the first half the Fijians dominated the possession and GB hardly didn’t had a chance to attack. In the second half, Simon Amor’s team showed a much improved performance but it was probably too little too late as Fiji already scored five tries in the first 10 minutes.  The only points from GB came through speedster Dan Norton with a fine try in the second half which was converted by Marcus Watson.   

AS IT HAPPENED@fijirugby 43-7 @TeamGB #Gold #Rugby7s #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ufA7YsbV9W

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) August 11, 2016

Bronze was won by South Africa which was just too strong in the final against surprise team Japan. In an emphatic 54-14 victory by the Springboks the Brave Blossoms hardly didn’t find a way through the solid South African defence.  The Boks’ superstar Cecile Afrika contributed 22 points while Goya and Kuwazuru scored tries for Japan.

In the other play-off matches on the final day, New Zealand beat Argentina 17-14 for fifth place, France overcame Australia 12-10 for seventh place with USA beating Spain 24-12 to ninth and Kenya finishing with a 24-0 win over hosts Brazil to claim 11th.

#Rio 2016 | Recap Day 2 | Men's Sevens

Pic: World Rugby

The race for gold comes down to the last four on the third day in Rio. Fiji, Japan, Great Britain and South Africa are the remaining teams to play for medals after what has been probably one of the most thrilling days in the history of the sport.

Results & Fixtures

DAY 1

MATCH 1

11:00

09.08.

AUS

14

v

31

FRA

MATCH 2

11:30

09.08.

RSA

24

v

0

ESP

MATCH 3

12:00

09.08.

GB

31

v

7

KEN

MATCH 4

12:30

09.08.

NZ

12

v

14

JPN

MATCH 5

13:00

09.08.

USA

14

v

17

ARG

MATCH 6

13:30

09.08.

FIJ

40

v

12

BRA

MATCH 7

14:00

09.08.

AUS

26

v

12

ESP

MATCH 8

14:30

09.08.

RSA

26

v

0

FRA

MATCH 9

15:00

09.08.

GB

21

v

19

JPN

MATCH 10

15:30

09.08.

NZ

28

v

5

KEN

MATCH 11

16:00

09.08.

USA

26

v

0

BRA

MATCH 12

16:30

09.08.

FIJ

21

v

14

ARG

DAY 2

MATCH 13

11:00

10.08.

FRA

26

v

5

ESP

MATCH 14

11:30

10.08.

RSA

5

v

12

AUS

MATCH 15

12:00

10.08.

KEN

7

v

31

JPN

MATCH 16

12:30

10.08.

NZL

19

v

21

GBR

MATCH 17

13:00

10.08.

ARG

31

v

0

BRA

MATCH 18

13:30

10.08.

FIJ

24

v

19

USA

MATCH 19

16:00

10.08.

USA

24

v

12

BRA

MATCH 20

16:30

10.08.

ESP

14

v

12

KEN

MATCH 21

17:00

10.08.

FIJ

12

v

7

NZL

MATCH 22

17:30

10.08.

JPN

12

v

7

FRA

MATCH 23

18:00

10.08.

GBR

5

v

0

ARG

MATCH 24

18:30

10.08.

RSA

22

v

5

AUS

DAY 3

MATCH 25

12:30

11.08.

BRA

0

v

24

KEN

MATCH 26

13:00

11.08.

USA

24

v

12

ESP

MATCH 27

13:30

11.08.

NZL

24

v

19

FRA

MATCH 28

14:00

11.08.

ARG

26

v

21

AUS

MATCH 29

14:30

11.08.

FIJ

20

v

5

JPN

MATCH 30

15:00

11.08.

GBR

7

v

5

RSA

MATCH 31

17:30

11.08.

FRA

12

v

10

AUS

MATCH 32

18:00

11.08.

NZL

17

v

14

ARG

MATCH 33

18:30

11.08.

RSA

54

v

17

JPN

MATCH 34

19:00

11.08.

GRB

7

v

43

FIJ

In pouring rain, Fiji faced New Zealand in the first quarter-final with the better end to Ben Ryan’s team. After the 12-7 win, the Fijian’s are still on track to win their first-ever Olympic medal. Fiji will face Japan in the semi-final today. The Brave Blossoms remain one of the great surprises in the tournament as they beat France in the second semi-final 12-7 with a last-minute try from Teruya Goto.

In the other quarter-final it required extra-time to determine a winner as no points were scored between Great Britain and Argentina after 14 minutes of play. Both sides had plenty of opportunities to seal the deal including two missed penalty kicks on each side. However eventually it was Englishman Dan Bibby who found a gap in the strong Argentinian defence to score the sudden death try that secured Team GB a place in the last four.

Great Britain will face South Africa in the second semi-final. The Springboks underlined their strong ambitions to win a medal after beating Australia 22-5. Despite a loss to the Aussies earlier in the pool stage, South Africa still went through to win their pool.

Earlier the USA beat Brazil in the ninth place play-off after the Americans dramatically failed to qualify for the last eight. A hat-trick from Carlin Isles secured a 24-12 victory over the hosts. The Eagles will face Spain in the play-off final. Spain just managed to get their first win in the tournament by beating Kenya 14-12 with two tries by Marcos Poggi.

The semi-finals kick-off today at 14:30 local time (18:30 BST) with Fiji facing Japan before Great Britain play South Africa.

#Rio 2016 | Recap Day 1 | Men's Sevens

Pic: World Rugby

Japan remains a team notorious for causing great upsets in rugby. After the Cherry Blossoms created a shock win against South Africa in the 15s World Cup last year, this time the Japanese proved that they are capable of beating another world class side in the shortened format of the game. In sensational style, Japan won, for the first time ever, against top-favourites New Zealand on the opening day of the Olympic Sevens men’s event.

DAY 1

MATCH 1

11:00

09.08.

AUS

14

v

31

FRA

MATCH 2

11:30

09.08.

RSA

24

v

0

ESP

MATCH 3

12:00

09.08.

GB

31

v

7

KEN

MATCH 4

12:30

09.08.

NZ

12

v

14

JPN

MATCH 5

13:00

09.08.

USA

14

v

17

ARG

MATCH 6

13:30

09.08.

FIJ

40

v

12

BRA

MATCH 7

14:00

09.08.

AUS

26

v

12

ESP

MATCH 8

14:30

09.08.

RSA

26

v

0

FRA

MATCH 9

15:00

09.08.

GB

21

v

19

JPN

MATCH 10

15:30

09.08.

NZ

28

v

5

KEN

MATCH 11

16:00

09.08.

USA

26

v

0

BRA

MATCH 12

16:30

09.08.

FIJ

21

v

14

ARG

DAY 2

MATCH 13

11:00

10.08.

FRA

26

v

5

ESP

MATCH 14

11:30

10.08.

RSA

5

v

12

AUS

MATCH 15

12:00

10.08.

KEN

7

v

31

JPN

MATCH 16

12:30

10.08.

NZL

19

v

21

GBR

MATCH 17

13:00

10.08.

ARG

31

v

0

BRA

MATCH 18

13:30

10.08.

FIJ

24

v

19

USA

MATCH 19

16:00

10.08.

USA

24

v

12

BRA

MATCH 20

16:30

10.08.

ESP

14

v

12

KEN

MATCH 21

17:00

10.08.

FIJ

12

v

7

NZL

MATCH 22

17:30

10.08.

JPN

12

v

7

FRA

MATCH 23

18:00

10.08.

GBR

5

v

0

ARG

MATCH 24

18:30

10.08.

RSA

22

v

5

AUS

DAY 3

MATCH 25

12:30

11.08.

BRA

0

v

24

KEN

MATCH 26

13:00

11.08.

USA

24

v

12

ESP

MATCH 27

13:30

11.08.

NZL

24

v

19

FRA

MATCH 28

14:00

11.08.

ARG

26

v

21

AUS

MATCH 29

14:30

11.08.

FIJ

20

v

5

JPN

MATCH 30

15:00

11.08.

GBR

7

v

5

RSA

MATCH 31

17:30

11.08.

FRA

12

v

10

AUS

MATCH 32

18:00

11.08.

NZL

17

v

14

ARG

MATCH 33

18:30

11.08.

RSA

54

v

17

JPN

MATCH 34

19:00

11.08.

GRB

7

v

43

FIJ

In a thrilling encounter Kameli Soejima and Lomano Lemeki's scored a try each which was just enough to beat the All Blacks Sevens. For New Zealand their first match of Rio 2016 came with more devastating news as superstar Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out of the tournament due to a partial Achilles tear.   

Meanwhile Fiji, South Africa and Great Britain finished day one as the only unbeaten teams. Fiji started the day with a comfortable 40-12 win over hosts Brazil but had to work a lot harder in their second and final match of the day against brave Argentinians. Argentina who impressed on day one with their physical forwards won their first match 14-17 against USA despite two yellow cards, but eventually lost 21-14 to Ben Ryan’s Fijians. The Americans progressed to a 26-0 victory in their final match against Brazil including two tries from NFL-convert Nate Ebner. 

In Pool B, the French team launched their Olympic campaign with a remarkable 31-14 win over Australia. France’s outstanding captain Terry Bouhraoua scored an impressive 24 points during the match. South Africa also managed to start off with a win into the tournament. Against Spain, the final team to qualify for Rio, the Boks smoothed to a 24-0 victory. Spain also struggled in their second match when they lost to Australia 26-12 later in the day. The much anticipated match between the two unbeaten teams from Pool B between France and South Africa turned out to be a one-sided affair as Justin Geduld, Kwagga Smith and Kyle Brown sealed the deal with a clear 19-0 win for South Africa.

Team GB went unbeaten through the first two matches of the pool stage after a fine performance against Kenya in the opening match (31-7 win) and a much tighter 21-19 win against the stunning Japanese, a match that almost ended in a draw, but a missed conversion from Katsuyuki Sakai resulted in two out of two wins for Great Britain. New Zealand recovered well from their shock defeat against Japan by beating Kenya 28-5.  

With only three teams unbeaten, all eight quarter-finals places are still up for grabs and will be determined after the final pool matches on Wednesday. The sessions gets underway at 11:00 local time (-4 hrs BST).