New Zealand beat SVNS League winners Argentina 17-12 and 17-7 in consolation playoffs.
New Zealand won five out of six matches in the tournament which is more than gold-medallists France and equal to runner up Fiji who lost their first Olympic match after 17 consecutive victories.
The New Zealand, Argentina clash in the fifth versus sixth semi-final would have been a worthy championship decider. Andrew Knewstubb scored a try five minutes into overtime. From a penalty captain Dylan Collier tapped and burst down the left wing. Quick ball went in the opposite direction and swift handling created the hole for Knewstubb.
Earlier Moses Leo, who an exceptional tourney, tied the scores with the last play of regulation time. He was set up after a commanding run and pass by Brady Rush.
Scores were tied seven each at halftime. Akuila Rokolisoa opened the scoring only for Argentina to jump ahead before the desperate rearguard.
New Zealand beat Ireland for the second time 17-7. New Zealand held the Irish scoreless after trailing 5-7 at halftime. New Zealand’s tries were scored by Leroy Carter, Rush and Leo.
France won the gold medal match with a euphoric 28-7 dispatching of Fiji. Superstar Antoine Dupont was imperious scoring two tries. The Guardian colourfully reported.
“In the space of seven minutes, the scrum-half made one try and scored two more. Whatever else happens in the next fortnight, his play in those moments will be part of the highlight reel of the Games. He did it all in front of a capacity crowd, the largest ever assembled for a game of sevens. Emmanuel Macron was there among the thousands, the president beaming down from the balcony while everyone belted out La Marseillaise. You could just about catch the golden tint of all that reflected glory on his brilliant white teeth.”
Silver medallists Fiji actually finished as the top point-scorers with 154, 38 more than Olympic champions France. Fiji were also the top try-scorers on 23 with Argentina, France and New Zealand next best on 18. The record is 26 tries by Fiji at Rio 2016 with New Zealand having crossed for 25 at Tokyo 2020.
A total of 180 tries and 1,146 points were scored across the 34 matches. This is slightly down on the record of 195 tries and 1,244 points scored at Tokyo 2020.
USA’s Perry Baker was the top try-scorer at Paris 2024 with six, matching the record for a single men’s Olympic Games competition set by former team-mate Carlin Isles in Rio and matched by Argentina flyer Marcos Moneta in Tokyo 2020. He finished one clear of Fiji’s Joji Nasova, New Zealand’s Moses Leo, Ireland’s Chay Mullins and Argentina’s Matías Osadczuk.
Fiji’s Iowane Teba and Baker finished as the top points scorers at Paris 2024 on 30, one point clear of France’s Ravan Rebbadj and New Zealand’s Akuila Rokolisoa.