Men's Rugby Recap, July 24: Fiji Stays Undefeated at Olympics With Win in Second Session

After an exciting first round of matches, the men's tournament continued Wednesday afternoon with six more pool play matches. Details on each match are below.

Australia vs. Kenya

Australia scored almost immediately off the opening kickoff, as Dietrich Peter Roache powered through the line of defense and offloaded to James Turner for the try. 

Kenya answered midway through the first. Anthony Mboya quick tapped off a penalty and ran into the try to even the score at 7 all. 

Then Nathan Lawson responded right before the end of the half when Roache placed a nice kick downfield and Lawson walked into the try. Australia led 14-7 at the half. 

Both teams looked exhausted in the second half as there were several breakaways, but none resulting in tries. Off a lineout near their own 22-meter, Corey Toole received a beautiful pass and turned the corner to give the Aussies some breathing room at 21-7. Australia moved to 2-0 in pool play, while Kenya fell to 0-2.

Australia 21, Kenya 7 

SEE MORE: Australia rugby earns second win in match against Kenya

Argentina vs. Samoa

The animated French crowd has decided that Argentina is the villain of the tournament. Both times Argentina took the pitch, it’s been to a large echo of boos. That didn't slow them down though. An alert play by Matias Osadczuk of Argentina turned a loose ball into a well-placed kick to score the first try of the match and put Argentina up 7-0 two minutes in.

Three minutes later, from their own 22, Matteo Graziano received the offload and cruised down the field to give Argentina the 14-0 lead. As the half wound down, Argentina capitalized on a loose ball, as Graziano popped the ball to Joaquin Pellandini, who took it home to give the Pumas a 21-0 lead at the half.

Argentina looked to be in total control the whole match. A second try from Pellandini gave his team a commanding 28-0 lead. 

But Samoa wouldn’t go away quietly. Vaafauese Apelu Maliko scored via physical play, then — with less a minute to play — Neueli Leitufia scored off a strong scrum push. A late push wouldn’t be enough as the Pumas won 28-12. Argentina moved to 2-0 in pool play, while Samoa fell to 0-2.

Argentina 28, Samoa 12

SEE MORE: Argentina outlasts late-match push from Samoa for 28-12 win

France vs. Uruguay

Looking to rebound from its draw with the United States, France got on the scoreboard just two minutes into the match. The French team put on a clinic of creating space and Antoine Zeghdar turned the corner for the opening try.

But as time expired in the first half, Guillermo Lijtenstein crashed his way into the try zone to put Uruguay up 7-5 at the half. 

The 69,000 fans in attendance were treated to a beautiful try in the beginning of the second half. Antoine Dupont recovered a loose ball and France crashed a few times, which led to Ryan Rebbadj offloading the ball back to Dupont, who took it home to give France a 12-7 lead.

Off the restart, Juan Gonzalez took advantage of a favorable bounce and carried the ball to the try to even the score at 12 all. 

Jefferson-Lee Joseph then showed off his impressive speed by taking an inside step to run past the defense and give France a seven-point lead. 

With 30 seconds remaining, France was called for a high tackle, but it was made worse when Andy Timo was given a yellow card after he kicked the ball away in frustration. France was able to hold off Uruguay on the man advantage behind a strong defensive play by Stephen Parez for the 19-12 win.

France moved to 1-1-0 in pool play, while Uruguay sits at 0-2.

France 19, Uruguay 12

SEE MORE: France rebounds for first win of the Olympics

Fiji vs. United States

The U.S. men had a tough task facing Fiji, which still hasn’t lost a match since rugby returned to the Olympics. It was a good start for the Americans, who scored first. Orrin Bizer displayed his speed running down the sideline and was able to shake off a defender to find the back of the try. With Stephen Tomasin missing the conversion, the U.S. jumped out to a 5-0 lead. 

Fiji wasted no time answering. Off the restart, Iowane Teba put on the jets and Fiji took a 7-5 lead. After recovering the kickoff, Fiji would tack on another quick score. A little over a minute after that, Selestino Ravutaumada who was a traveling reserve and injury replacement for this game, found the back of the try.

Perry Baker looked like he’d answer for the U.S., but he had the ball punched away. Fiji took advantage, leading to Teba’s second try of the half. The U.S. faced a daunting task entering the half down 33-5. 

Baker would be the lone bright spot for the U.S. in the second half. At 38, he showed he still has speed, running most of the field for his first try of the tournament. But in the end, Fiji sailed past the Americans for a 38-12 win.

Fiji moved to 2-0 in pool play, while the Americans are 1-1-0.

Fiji 38, United States 12

SEE MORE: U.S. rugby falls to undefeated Fiji

Ireland vs. Japan

After a solid win in its first match, Ireland was looking to go 2-0 on the day. Terry Kennedy wasted no time, breaking through Japan’s defense to give the Irish an early 7-0 lead. Just before the half expired, Kennedy carried the ball most of the way down the field before making the selfless play to pass to Chay Mullins for the more centered try to set up an easier conversion. 

Harry McNulty intercepted the ball right after the half to give the Irish a 21-0 lead. Mullins then scored a second try in the match.

Japan avoided the shutout with a score by Tsuoka Shotaro, but the Irish secured their second win of the day, 40-5. 

Ireland 40, Japan 5

SEE MORE: Ireland rugby cruises past Japan in dominating fashion

New Zealand vs. South Africa

Two rugby powerhouses faced off in the final match of the day. New Zealand scored first after textbook offloads down the field. Moses Leo carried it over the try line and the Kiwis took an early 5-0 lead. South Africa’s captain Selvyn Davids would answer to even the score at 5 all. In another beautiful display of offloads, Ngarohi McGarvey scored for New Zealand to take a 10-5 lead into the half. 

Midway through the second, Leo used his speed to secure his second try of the match and the Kiwis took a 17-5 lead. That’s all New Zealand would need in a very physical match. New Zealand moved to 2-0 in pool play, while South Africa dropped to 0-2. 

Something to watch for tomorrow is the status of three-time Olympian Regan Ware of New Zealand. Towards the end of the match, he had to go off to the sideline with what looked like a shoulder injury. He returned to the pitch because the Kiwis used all their subs, but he appeared to be slowed by the injury. 

New Zealand 17, South Africa 5

SEE MORE: New Zealand triumphant in a battle of rugby powerhouses