THE absence of crowds at the big stadia events in the big cities has been a cruel blow to the Tokyo Olympics but especially the Rugby Sevens that was primed for 49,000 sell-outs at the Tokyo Stadium for all the big sessions.
Ultimately Fiji triumphed again, retaining their Men’s title from Rio, and the missing hordes at the stadium, save for a couple of dozen flying the Fijian flag who mysteriously appeared on finals day, missed an absolute belter of a competition. Somehow all concerned rose above adversity to showcase the sport at its best and seal its place in the Olympic competition going forward.
Hopefully in Paris the Olympics will finally experience the full glory of Sevens. Colourful and slightly inebriated fans partying in their tens of thousands off the pitch while the gladiators and speedsters battle inside the whitewash. Tokyo 2020 had everything save for that crowd and endless choruses of Sweet Caroline, a Sevens regular for 30 years or more.
We had the latest Fijian wonder team – powered by prayer, pace, physicality and panache –a squad that arrived in Japan on a fishing boat because they couldn’t get a flight from Australia after decamping Covidridden Fiji on Easter Sunday. There was the remorseless never-say-die Kiwis; the emotional Pumas who won their quarter -final with just five players on the park at the end and who blub more in victory than most teams in defeat; a plucky GB side who, having the rug pulled on them by their Unions in terms of financial support, pulled off one of the great comeback wins in history against the USA in their quarter-final. They and many other squads defied huge odds to mount a credible campaign. and put on a show. A hat tip to one and all.
The pandemic has hit the Sevens world hard across the globe and largely deprived the sport of meaningful tournaments and game time over the last 18 months. All the squads have been forced to dig deep, scrambling to make good. Some on modest contracts, others on a wing and a prayer and the indulgence and generosity of friends and family.
The GB squad, for example, travel home to an uncertain future with no guarantees that England, Wales and Scotland are going to reboot their Sevens programmes and many of the 12 competing teams are in the same situation.
Fiji’s young, largely island-based team had to leave the country on Easter Sunday and have been unable to return until this week. Some had not been on a plane before and it was with real feeling that skipper Jerry Tuwai, the one survivor from the much more experienced 2016 squad, declared it a special win that perhaps meant even more than Rio. To emphasise that back home two days of national holiday – Thursday and Friday – were declared rather than just the one in 2016. Welsh coach Gareth Baber has followed in Ben Ryan’s footsteps and done a very fine job. Perhaps he will also now get his face on a Fijian banknote, as did Ryan.
The Pool matches aren’t always the best guide in Seven tournaments, but Tokyo was possibly an exception. In a stacked Pool A, winners New Zealand and runners up Argentina were obvious medal contenders while in Pool B winners Fiji – who started to flex their muscles after a slow start against hosts Japan – and Great Britain cruised through.
Great Britain really impressed during their opening wins over Canada and Japan although, having already qualified for the quarter-finals, they dropped off a little against the Fijians.
It is telling that all the semi-finalists came from these two pools while Pool C was topped by unbeaten South Africa, who didn’t quite seem to have the cutting edge of past World Series tournaments and an erratic USA side that mixed the sublime and brilliant with the occasionally flawed. Canada and Australia also advanced to the quarter-finals as the two best runners- up.
Talking about the quarter-finals, New Zealand found it tougher going than expected against Canada who hung on well to go down only 21-10 and then came the much-anticipated USA v GB clash, the start of the best half hour of Sevens rugby I have ever witnessed. The Eagles absolutely bossed the first six minutes with two tries for the rampaging Danny Barrett and another for speedster Perry Baker but a try on the stroke of half-time from Olly Lindsay-Hague offered just a glimmer of hope for GB.
Half-time offered a chance for GB to regroup and injured skipper Tom Mitchell did all the talking in the huddle before they came out and roared with tries for Ben Harris, Alex Davies and Dan Norton as they marched to a remarkable 26-21 win. We should not forget Dan Bibby’s three conversions either, only one of them straightforward. Ultimately that six points made the difference.
Then came a quite extraordinary match between South Africa and Argentina with the Boks going 7-0 up at which point skipper Gaston Revol was sent off for the Pumas who were down to six men for the rest of the game. I thought it was yellow rather than red, a marginal late shot and although high not as high like some that had been waved through.
Still the referee is always right. No way back said the sages except the Pumas and their sensational wing discovery Marcos Moneta begged to differ. Moneta, who was my player of the tournament, sped in for two tries and Santiago Alvarez added a third before the Pumas copped another card – this time a yellow and were left holding out with just five players. The Boks snaffled a late penalty try but Argentina prevailed 19-14 and celebrated like they had won the gold medal itself.
Many were joining in around the world, an astonishing effort.
Fiji did what they needed to do in the quarters to beat Australia 19-0 before upping the intensity and the size of the hits in a fine semi-final against the ever competitive Pumas. Indeed for all their running skills it was often their defence physicality that marked out this Fijian side.
The Fijians were forced to find top gear before winning 26-14 while New Zealand were just too strong for GB, winning 29-7 which set up an intriguing final.
The Kiwis gave it everything but Fiji had too much strike power with Derenalagi, Maqala, Wainiqolo and the mighty Tuivaka scoring tries.
Curry and Molia crossed for New Zealand and all that was left was the Fijians’ communal prayers and their singing to an empty stadium on the podium which was almost too poignant to bear.
BRENDAN GALLAGHER
