Brazil defeat Japan as Canada flounder

Brazil scored their first win of the Olympics with a 26-10 victory over Japan in the final round of pool play at Deodoro Stadium on Sunday. Two tries by Beatriz Muhlbauer led the way with singles from Paula Ishibashi and Amanda Araújo. The win won’t be enough to put Brazil into the quarter-finals as points differential gives Spain the final spot in the knock-outs after they defeated Kenya 19-10.

Medal favorites Canada shocked observers with a dismal performance against Great Britain, losing 22-0 in a setback to their hopes for gold. Unforced errors were the story of the match with poor handling giving away three tries and a defensive mistake leading to the fourth. It was a complete departure from their strong form on Day 1 and they will now have to regroup before their knock-out match against France.

The French fell to New Zealand by four tries to one but had their moments with a try to Camille Grassineau exposing some vulnerability. Fiji managed to keep Colombia off the scoreboard with some desperate defense late in the match and came away tops in a one-sided 36-0 match.

In a rousing close to the pool stages the USA almost pulled off the shock of the tourney as they drew with favorites Australia 12-all. A try against the run of play from Emma Tonegato gave the Australians an unlikely lead as they were on the ropes. The pressure eventually turned to points as Jessica Javelet raced away for a brilliant score down the sideline, and then followed it up with an intercept score to give the Americans a seven point buffer. Tonegato landed her second with time expired to spare Australia’s blushes and retain their top spot in the pool.

The first round of the knock-outs are now set as Brazil and Colombia will face off in a 9th place semi-final, followed by Kenya and Japan. Australia open the medal quarter-finals against Spain, Canada face France, Great Britain have drawn Fiji, and New Zealand line up USA.

 

POOL RESULTS

POOL A
USA 7 – 12 Fiji
Australia 53 – 0 Colombia
USA 48 – 0 Colombia
Australia 36 – 0 Fiji
Fiji 36 – 0 Colombia
Australia 12 – 12 USA

POOL B
France 24 – 7 Spain
New Zealand 52 – 0 Kenya
France 40 – 7 Kenya
New Zealand 31 – 5 Spain
Spain 19 – 10 Kenya
New Zealand 26 – 7 France

POOL C
Great Britain 29 – 3 Brazil
Canada 45 – 0 Japan
Great Britain 40 – Japan
Canada 38 – 0 Brazil
Brazil 26 – 10 Japan
Canada 0 – 22 Great Britain

 

DAY 1 KNOCK-OUT FIXTURES (all times local Brazil)

SUN, AUG 7 – 16:00 – 9th SEMI – Brazil vs Colombia
SUN, AUG 7 – 16:30 – 9th SEMI – Kenya vs Japan

SUN, AUG 7 – 17:00 – QF – Australia vs Spain
SUN, AUG 7 – 17:30 – QF – Canada vs France
SUN, AUG 7 – 18:00 – QF – Great Britain vs Fiji
SUN, AUG 7 – 18:30 – QF – New Zealand vs USA