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Japan have once again shocked the rugby world with an incredible 14-12 win over New Zealand in the first round of the Men’s Olympic 7s at Deodoro Stadium on Tuesday. Teruya Goto opened the scoring and after Scott Curry and Akira Ioane put New Zealand into the lead, Kameli Soejima raced in for Japan’s second with only a minute to play and Katsuyuki Sakai’s conversion handed Japan the win after a tense finish.
The loss was doubly painful for New Zealand as both Sonny Bill Williams and Joe Webber went off injured and are now doubtful to continue in the competition. Liam Messam and Sione Molia are on standby.
That wasn’t the only upset on Day One as France ripped into Australia in the opening match to come away with a spectacular 31-14 win. French captain Terry Bouhraoua scored a hat-trick and a personal haul of 24 points. The Australians fought back from a 17-0 half-time deficit to come within three points, but Manoël Dall’Igna’s try put them back on the rack and Bouhraoua’s third finished Australia off.
In another incredible match Argentina defeated USA 17-14 despite being reduced to only five men at one point after receiving two consecutive yellow cards, and three in total. A pivotal call on what looked to be a try-saving tackle by Juan Imhoff was instead ruled foul play and a penalty try to the USA by referee Craig Joubert. Only a late try from Matias Moroni saved the result.
Los Pumas will be counting the cost, however, as Javier Rojas and Rodrigo Etchart both suffered what could be tournament-ending injuries. Nicolás Bruzzone and Segundo Tuculet are poised to join up with the main squad.
Brazil fell heavily to Fiji by 40-12 but scored both the opening try through Felipe Claro and the final score of the opening round by Gustavo Albuquerque. The Fijians coasted through the opening half but turned it up after the break, scoring 33 unanswered points in the second half to maintain their favorites status.
Other matches saw contenders South Africa defeat Spain 24-0 and Great Britain getting past Kenya with surprising ease by 31-7. The first day continues at 15:00 ET, 16:00 local Brazilian time.
DAY ONE ROUND 1 RESULTS
POOL A
USA 14 vs 17 Argentina
Fiji 40 vs 12 Brazil
POOL B
Australia 14 vs 31 France
South Africa 24 vs 0 Spain
POOL C
Great Britain 31 vs 7 Kenya
New Zealand 12 vs 14 Japan
DAY ONE ROUND 2 FIXTURES (all times local Brazil)
TUES, AUG 9 – 16:00 – POOL B – Australia vs Spain
TUES, AUG 9 – 16:30 – POOL B – South Africa vs France
TUES, AUG 9 – 17:00 – POOL C – Great Britain vs Japan
TUES, AUG 9 – 17:30 – POOL C – New Zealand vs Kenya
TUES, AUG 9 – 18:00 – POOL A – USA vs Brazil
TUES, AUG 9 – 18:30 – POOL A – Fiji vs Argentina
