All Blacks stunned by Japan in sevens opener

It’s Canada’s second medal in a team sport in as many Games after the women’s soccer team captured bronze four years ago in London.

Brazil’s 33-5 victory over Japan meant that as Tupis secured a core team place on the Women’s Sevens Series for 2016/17.

In the other play-off matches on the final day, the U.S. beat France for fifth place, Spain overcame Fiji for seventh, with hosts Brazil beating Japan to ninth and Kenya finishing wtih a win over Colombia.

McAlister grabbed her second with less than two minutes to play while Woodman, the all-time leading try-scorer in World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series history with 119 tries over four seasons, took her tournament tally to a leading 10 with a consolation effort on the hooter.

But Tonegato was on hand from a resulting penalty to scramble over in the corner to draw the scores level.

New Zealand face Kenya on Tuesday night before facing Great Britain in their final Pool C encounter on Wednesday.

Soejima, who scored Japan’s second try, was left revelling in the fun of sevens.

But late in the first half, she instinctively reached out behind her on defense to stop an Australian pass, causing a deliberate knock-on.

For one member of the Australian squad the gold medal completed a unique double, Nicole Beck having been part of her country’s side that also won the first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens back in 2009, just six months before the International Olympic Committee voted to include rugby sevens on the Olympic programme for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Canada attacked from the opening kickoff and never trailed in the match, taking a 26-5 lead into the break and limiting the Brits’ chances in the second half with hard tackling and stifling defensive play.

“When it comes down to the real tough games like that, you just need a bit more grunt at times, and they had it”.

Scoring for Canada in the match was spread around, with Ghislaine Landry going over for two tries and kicking four converts, while Karen Paquin, Bianca Farella and Kelly Russell also went over the try line.

France went into halftime leading 5-0, but the USA had all of the momentum after returning to the pitch.

Huriana Manuel then sealed the deal for the Kiwi team, barging her way over with two minutes remaining in the match.

The first Olympic rugby gold medal in 92 years has gone to a group of Australian women that includes a mechanic, an elite former sprinter and a 21-year-old newcomer who has traveled around Rio de Janeiro carrying an inflatable kangaroo. Fair play to Canada, they were the better side, they executed better than we did, and they are rightfully going to have that medal round their necks. Team GB opened their campaign with a comfortable 31-7 victory over Kenya.