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The USA kept their medal hopes alive with a 26-0 win over Brazil in the second round of games on Day One of the Men’s Olympic 7s event on Tuesday. Tries to Folau Niua, Nate Ebner, Carlin Isles, and Maka Unufe gave them the some much-needed points as they look ahead to an all-or-nothing Day Two where they might need a little help to sneak into the medal finals.
Argentina gave favorites Fiji a scare leading 14-7 just after the break with tries from Franco Sabato and Santiago Alvarez, but Kitione Taliga crossed twice to deny the upset and maintain Fiji’s lead heading into the final round of pool play. The results means that USA currently sit in third spot but hold a points differential advantage over Australia for one of two 3rd place spots in the medal rounds.
A determined Spain made it difficult for the Australians, who came away 26-12 winners but are still on the outside looking in after their disastrous opening loss to France. New Zealand look in slightly better shape with a decisive 28-5 result over Kenya to quell the loss of both Sonny Bill Williams and Joe Webber.
Japan very nearly pulled off another surprise with the conversion on a try in stoppage time just drifting wide of the posts to spare Great Britain a draw. The 21-19 score means that Japan have not quite done enough to make the medal round, but can clinch their place if they defeat Kenya on Wednesday. South Africa looked classy as they dominated France 26-0 and are yet to concede a single point.
The intensity of the competition will hit new heights on Day Two with pivotal matches mid-day followed by the quarter-finals in the late afternoon. Only South Africa, Fiji, and Great Britain have qualified for the medal rounds with a number of possible outcomes pending some key results. New Zealand, Australia, and the USA will need big performances to stay alive, with Australia the one to miss out as things stand.
DAY ONE RESULTS
POOL A
USA 14 vs 17 Argentina
Fiji 40 vs 12 Brazil
USA 26 vs 0 Brazil
Fiji 21 vs 14 Argentina
POOL B
Australia 14 vs 31 France
South Africa 24 vs 0 Spain
Australia 26 vs 12 Spain
South Africa 26 vs 0 France
POOL C
Great Britain 31 vs 7 Kenya
New Zealand 12 vs 14 Japan
Great Britain 21 vs 19 Japan
New Zealand 28 vs 5 Kenya
DAY TWO POOL FIXTURES (all times local Brazil)
WED, AUG 10 – 11:00 – POOL B – France vs Spain
WED, AUG 10 – 11:30 – POOL B – South Africa vs Australia
WED, AUG 10 – 12:00 – POOL C – Kenya vs Japan
WED, AUG 10 – 12:30 – POOL C – New Zealand vs Great Britain
WED, AUG 10 – 13:00 – POOL A – Argentina vs Brazil
WED, AUG 10 – 13:30 – POOL A – Fiji vs USA
