Olympic Games: Antoine Dupont’s gold medal dream still alive as France face Fiji in final after burying South Africa demons

Dylan Coetzee 27 Jul 2024 4:10 PM

Split with France's Antoine Dupont and Fiji's Selestino Ravutaumada.

Hosts France set up a clash against Fiji in the Gold Medal match after both sides claimed convincing wins in the semi-finals over South Africa (19-5) and Australia (31-7) respectively.

The first semi-final was a particularly tight affair to begin with as France struggled to make the most of early territory as some nervous mistakes cost them any progress. The defence of South Africa was also up to the task, making it difficult for Les Bleus.

It was the Blitzboks defence that eventually earned them field position late in the first half but the South Africans failed to capitalise with the game scoreless at the break.

The deadlock was broken early in the second half as South Africa did well to compound pressure which saw Tristan Leyds go over in the corner. The star would miss the conversion on his own try.

France did not wait around and kicked into gear immediately, responding with a Rayan Rebbadj try which he converted on his own. The Frenchman would not be kept quiet as he scored again just two minutes later – once again converting the try.

The hosts smelt blood and some quick thinking from Antoine Dupont saw Jordan Sepho go over for the final points of the game sealing the 19-5 win.

The XVs convert is just one game away from achieving his dream of winning gold in Paris, while he also gained some revenge on South Africa after their Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks last year.

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Flair-filled Fiji dominant

The second semi-final did not wait as long to get the first points on the board with Ben Dowling getting over for Australia after six minutes as Dietrich Roache converted.

The Fijians had enjoyed most of the dominance in the game in the first half but had little to show for it until the second period where they turned on the flair that has become synonymous with the country’s Sevens side.

Fiji ran in a whopping four tries after the break with Joji Nasova the first to score in the eighth minute which was converted by Iowane Teba.

The momentum firmly fell the way of the Pacific side as Iosefo Baleiwairiki scored just a minute later with Teba on the mark again with the conversion.

Fans only had to wait two more minutes until Kamineli Rasaku scored his try with Waisea Nacuqu converting on this occasion. The Fijians then got a penalty in a kickable location and took it with Terio Veilawa’s effort taking them out of the two-score range.

Selestino Ravutaumada then rubberstamped their passage into the final after he soared across the line in the last play before Nacuqu kicked the extras in the 31-7 triumph.

The victory means that Fiji are still yet to lose an Olympic match in any edition of the Games.