Unbeaten starts for Fiji and Great Britain in Tokyo 2020
Waisea Nacuqu of Fiji scores against Wales during day two of the Sydney 7S Rugby tournament at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, February 2 2020. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO BOOKS **
Defending Olympic men’s rugby sevens champions Fiji have started their Tokyo 2020 campaign in solid fashion following victories over Japan and Canada.
It sealed their passage into the quarter-finals and will face 2016 silver medallists Great Britain to decide who finishes top of Pool B.
Japan gave Fiji a major scare, leading by seven points early in the second period before two late tries thwarted them.
The Pacific Islanders then followed that up with a slightly more comfortable encounter as they defeated the Canadians 28-14.
Great Britain impress
Britain were the more impressive of the two in Pool B as they saw off Canada 24-0 in their opener – Dan Norton (2), Ross McCann and Robbie Fergusson scored tries, with Dan Bibby kicking two conversions.
They then brushed aside Japan 34-0 as Harry Glover, Ben Harris, Ethan Waddleton, Alex Davis, Bibby and Mitchell touched down, and Bibby landed two conversions to complete an outstanding day’s work.
Prospects for the men’s and women’s GB squads looked bleak last year amid coronavirus-enforced cuts made to sevens programmes in Britain.
Funding, though, was then obtained via a commercial partnership struck between the Rugby Football Union, Scottish Rugby Union, Welsh Rugby Union and The National Lottery promotional fund.
It meant the Olympic dream came alive again following an uncertain time that long-serving sevens exponent Bibby is unlikely to forget in a hurry.
“A lot of people have bigger struggles in life, but it has definitely been the most difficult year of my life,” he said.
“Trying to have an Olympic Games in your sights, I was in the garage training in the middle of winter.
“The amount of times I sat there just thinking ‘what am I doing’? The amount of times my brain was thinking ‘just give up, call it a day’.
“That determination everyone has had to be here, that is what is fuelling us.
“You know there are worse times than when the heat is coming on, your legs are hurting and you feel like giving up.
Harry Glover was different levels against Japan 🧙♂️#HowWeSevens | #Rugby | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/agicbejhnp
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“You have got it in the back of your mind not to worry because you’ve had harder than this. It is hard to describe how proud I am of myself and the lads to get here.
“Who knows what is going to happen after this? I do know that we are treating every game as our last. We will go out there for each other, our loved ones and do everyone proud.”
Elsewhere, the favourites all enjoyed fine starts with New Zealand, South Africa and USA remaining unbeaten.
The All Blacks Sevens were dominant in their two pool matches, defeating South Korea 50-5 and Argentina 35-14, while the Blitzboks overcame Ireland and Kenya.
The South Africans will face the Americans on Tuesday to decide who finishes top of Pool C after the US edged past Kenya (19-14) and Ireland (19-17).