After an exhilarating first round of matches, the men’s rugby tournament continued on Wednesday afternoon with six more pool play matches. The excitement was palpable as teams battled for supremacy on the field. Below, we delve into the details of each match, offering a comprehensive analysis of the performances and key moments that defined the day.
Australia vs. Kenya
Australia Takes Early Lead
Australia wasted no time in asserting their dominance against Kenya. Almost immediately after the opening kickoff, Dietrich Peter Roache broke through the Kenyan defense line and offloaded to James Turner, who scored the first try. This rapid start gave Australia an early 7-0 lead.
Kenya’s Quick Response
Kenya, however, was not to be outdone. Midway through the first half, Anthony Mboya took a quick tap off a penalty and sprinted into the try zone, leveling the score at 7-7. This showcased Kenya’s resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities.
Australia Regains Control
As the first half drew to a close, Nathan Lawson responded for Australia. Roache executed a well-placed kick downfield, allowing Lawson to stroll into the try zone. Australia led 14-7 at halftime.
Second Half Struggles and Triumph
Both teams appeared fatigued in the second half, with several breakaways failing to result in tries. However, off a lineout near their 22-meter line, Corey Toole received a perfect pass and turned the corner to score, extending Australia’s lead to 21-7. This victory propelled Australia to a 2-0 record in pool play, while Kenya fell to 0-2.
Argentina vs. Samoa
Argentinian Dominance
The French crowd at the stadium seemed to have cast Argentina as the tournament’s villain, greeting them with boos each time they took the field. Despite this, Argentina remained unfazed. Matias Osadczuk demonstrated quick thinking by converting a loose ball into a well-placed kick, scoring the first try and giving Argentina a 7-0 lead just two minutes in.
Building the Lead
Three minutes later, Matteo Graziano received an offload and cruised down the field from their own 22, doubling Argentina’s lead to 14-0. As the half wound down, Graziano capitalized on another loose ball, passing to Joaquin Pellandini, who scored to give the Pumas a commanding 21-0 halftime lead.
Samoa’s Resistance
Argentina continued their dominance in the second half with Pellandini scoring his second try, extending the lead to 28-0. Samoa, however, showed grit. Vaafauese Apelu Maliko scored through physical play, followed by Neueli Leitufia’s try off a strong scrum push with less than a minute to play. Despite Samoa’s late push, Argentina secured a 28-12 victory, moving to 2-0 in pool play while Samoa dropped to 0-2.
France vs. Uruguay
France’s Early Strike
Following a draw with the United States, France aimed to rebound. Just two minutes into their match against Uruguay, Antoine Zeghdar showcased his speed and skill by turning the corner for the opening try, putting France ahead.
Uruguay’s Resilient Response
As the first half concluded, Guillermo Lijtenstein powered his way into the try zone, giving Uruguay a 7-5 lead at halftime. This marked a turning point, highlighting Uruguay’s determination and tactical play.
Second Half Drama
The second half began with a beautiful try from France. Antoine Dupont capitalized on a loose ball and, after several crashes, Ryan Rebbadj offloaded back to Dupont, who scored to reclaim the lead for France at 12-7. Juan Gonzalez then equalized for Uruguay by taking advantage of a favorable bounce off the restart.
France’s Winning Touch
Jefferson-Lee Joseph demonstrated impressive speed and agility, taking an inside step to outrun the defense and score, giving France a seven-point lead. Despite a late high tackle call against France and a yellow card for Andy Timo, France’s strong defense, led by Stephen Parez, held off Uruguay for a 19-12 win. France moved to a 1-1-0 record in pool play, while Uruguay remained winless at 0-2.
United States vs. Fiji
Strong Start for the U.S.
The U.S. faced a formidable opponent in Fiji, who had yet to lose a match since rugby’s return to the Olympics. Orrin Bizer gave the Americans an early lead, showcasing his speed and determination by running down the sideline and shaking off a defender to score. However, Stephen Tomasin’s missed conversion meant the U.S. only led 5-0.
Fiji’s Swift Response
Fiji quickly answered back. Off the restart, Iowane Teba’s speed was on full display as he scored, putting Fiji ahead 7-5. Fiji continued their dominance, recovering the kickoff and adding another quick try. Selestino Ravutaumada, a traveling reserve and injury replacement, also found the try zone, extending Fiji’s lead.
Fiji’s Unstoppable Force
Perry Baker nearly answered for the U.S., but a defensive punch dislodged the ball. Fiji capitalized, leading to Teba’s second try of the half. The U.S. faced a significant deficit, trailing 33-5 at halftime.
Baker’s Bright Moment
In the second half, Perry Baker was a standout for the U.S. At 38 years old, he demonstrated impressive speed, covering most of the field to score his first try of the tournament. Despite this highlight, Fiji maintained control and secured a 38-12 victory. Fiji moved to a 2-0 record in pool play, while the Americans stood at 1-1-0.
Ireland vs. Japan
Ireland’s Early Advantage
Ireland sought to build on their earlier success with a solid win against Japan. Terry Kennedy wasted no time, breaking through Japan’s defense to score an early try and putting Ireland ahead 7-0.
Unselfish Play
As the first half neared its end, Kennedy showcased unselfish play by carrying the ball most of the way down the field before passing to Chay Mullins, who scored a more centered try, facilitating an easier conversion. This gave Ireland a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Ireland’s Continued Dominance
Right after the second half began, Harry McNulty intercepted the ball and extended Ireland’s lead to 21-0. Mullins then added a second try, further solidifying Ireland’s control.
Japan’s Consolation Try
Japan managed to avoid a shutout with a try by Tsuoka Shotaro, but Ireland’s dominance was clear as they secured a 40-5 victory, moving to a 2-0 record in pool play.
New Zealand vs. South Africa
New Zealand’s Early Lead
In a highly anticipated match between two rugby powerhouses, New Zealand struck first. Through textbook offloads, Moses Leo carried the ball over the try line, giving the Kiwis an early 5-0 lead. South Africa’s captain, Selvyn Davids, responded, evening the score at 5-5.
Kiwi’s Tactical Play
New Zealand regained the lead with another display of offloading skill. Ngarohi McGarvey scored, putting New Zealand ahead 10-5 at halftime. Midway through the second half, Moses Leo used his speed to secure his second try, extending the lead to 17-5.
Physical Battle
The match was highly physical, with both teams showcasing their strength and resilience. New Zealand’s tactical play and speed proved decisive, securing a 17-5 victory. This win moved New Zealand to a 2-0 record in pool play, while South Africa fell to 0-2.
Injury Concerns
A point of concern for New Zealand was the status of three-time Olympian Regan Ware, who appeared to suffer a shoulder injury towards the end of the match. Despite returning to the field due to all subs being used, Ware seemed hampered by the injury, something to watch in the coming days.
FAQs
What was the result of the match between Australia and Kenya?
Australia won the match against Kenya with a score of 21-7.
How did Argentina perform against Samoa?
Argentina dominated the match against Samoa, winning 28-12.
What was the outcome of the France vs. Uruguay match?
France triumphed over Uruguay with a score of 19-12.
Did the U.S. manage to defeat Fiji?
No, the U.S. was defeated by Fiji, with the final score being 38-12 in favor of Fiji.
How did Ireland fare against Japan?
Ireland secured a convincing victory over Japan, winning 40-5.
Who won the match between New Zealand and South Africa?
New Zealand emerged victorious against South Africa with a score of 17-5.
Conclusion
The second day of pool play in the men’s rugby tournament was filled with thrilling matches and standout performances. Teams like Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand continued to assert their dominance, while others like Kenya and South Africa faced challenges. As the tournament progresses, the intensity and excitement are sure to build, promising more unforgettable moments on the rugby field. Fans can look forward to more action and drama as teams vie for a spot in the next round, with every match bringing its own unique story and set of heroes.
