Rio champions Fiji on track for men’s rugby gold medal tilt at Tokyo 2020

The Tokyo 2020 men’s rugby sevens tournament delivered a riveting day of rugby at the Tokyo Stadium on Monday as Fiji, Argentina, New Zealand and Great Britain booked their places in the semi-finals.

The sevens version of the game is a highly-entertaining and high-speed brand of rugby which has flourished in recent years under the World Rugby banner and has quickly become a leading attracting at the Olympic games since joining the programme at Rio 2016.

Rugby’s fast-flowing sevens offering is easy to understand and action-packed and sold more tickets for Tokyo 2020 than any sport before the ruling was announced that fans would be barred from the Games at events in Tokyo.

In the first quarter-final New Zealand brushed aside Canada 21-10 as they ran in three tries before the latter ran in two consolation tries in the final minute.

New Zealand will face Great Britain in the semi-finals after they came from behind to stun USA 26-21 in a breathless game. USA stormed ahead with three first half tries including a brace from former American footballer Perry Baker who was once on the books of NFL franchise Philadelphia Eagles.

Great Britain’s Ollie Lindsay-Hague got his country off the mark with a crucial score before half-time to cut the deficit to 14 points.

Great Britain ran in three tries without reply in the second half including a fine effort from Dan Norton, the all-time scorer in men’s sevens series history, as the 2016 bronze medallists clinched their place in the last four in scintillating fashion.

Argentina produced the shock of the round as they bested South Africa 19-14 despite playing most of the game with six men and even went down to five players in the closing seconds.

Argentina fell behind to a try from Selvyn Davids and the quarter-final looked like it could have been over as a competitive contest when South Africa’s try-scorer was taken out by a high tackle from number eight Gaston Revol who received a red card for dangerous play.

Argentina had other ideas and Pumas’ flyer Marcos Moneta outpaced his South African counterpart for a fine solo effort.

The youngster was it again moments later when he chipped the ball over the top and beat two South African’s defenders to put his country ahead 14-7.

With two minutes remaining, Argentina extended their lead through a score from Santiago Alvarez.

South Africa earned a penalty try to cut the gap to five and Lautaro Bazan Velez was sin binned after a yellow to send Argentina down to five men in the closing seconds.

The Pumas held on for a famous win and will now face Fiji for a place in the final after they eased past a toothless Australia side who failed to impose themselves on the game.

Two unanswered tries from Fiji’s inspirational captain Jerry Tuwai put the Rio 2016 winners within touching distance of the semi-finals and winger Aminiasi Tuimaba made sure when he ran over in the last minute.

In the men’s 9-12 placing matches, Ireland thrashed South Korea 31-0 while misfiring hosts Japan fell to Kenya 21-7 and those two winning teams will meet on Wednesday to decide who finishes ninth and 10th respectively.

Rugby sevens made its Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games where in the men’s competition Fiji routed Great Britain to win gold and South Africa thrashed Japan for bronze. In the women’s competition Australia narrowly defeated New Zealand for gold and Canada stormed past Great Britain for bronze.

In the morning session in Tokyo, Fiji tormented Great Britain in a re-run of the 2016 final with a 33-7 win as both nations progressed to the quarter-finals after finishing first and second respectively in pool B.

Japan were knocked out of the medal running after a third straight loss as Canada inflicted a painful 36-12 defeat upon the expectant hosts who finished bottom of Pool B.

In pool A, New Zealand edged past Australia 14-12 in the latest absorbing instalment of their trans-tasman rivalry while Argentina whitewashed South Korea 56-0 to finish second and progress to the last eight.

In Pool C, South Africa were pushed all the way by the USA before safely retaining their 100% start to the competition with a 17-12 triumph. USA beat Kenya and Ireland on Monday and finished second in the group to book an intriguing quarter-final with Great Britain.

The men’s sevens tournament will come to its conclusion on Wednesday at the Tokyo Stadium.