Rio Olympic Sevens Womens August 6-8th Mens 9-11th

First topic message reminder :

Men’s draw

Pool A: Fiji, USA, Argentina, Brazil

Pool B: South Africa, Australia, France, Spain

Pool C: New Zealand, Great Britain, Kenya, Japan

Women’s draw

Pool A: Australia, USA, Fiji, Colombia

Pool B: New Zealand, France, Spain, Kenya

Pool C: Canada, Great Britain, Brazil, Japan

Twelve teams start the tournament, and pool play reduces this to eight for a quarter final round. The top two teams automatically qualify, along with the two best losers.

In the Men's draw, Brazil, Spain and Japan look most likely to finish out of the running but Spain did beat Samoa, so a turn-up is very possible. NZ, Fiji and South Africa will almost certainly qualify, but the other team to miss the cut could be any of the other six

The quarter finals will match up as follows for both Mens and Womens:

Winner pool A vs Second best 3rd place finish
Runner-up pool B vs Runner-up pool C
Winner pool B vs Best 3rd place finish
Winner pool C vs Runner-up pool A

If you go by form, that could look something like this in the Mens:

Fiji vs Argentina
Australia vs Great Britain
South Africa vs Kenya
New Zealand vs USA

The quarters, semis and final will all be played on the 11th August.

Kurt Baker might be feeling a bit silly today.

He was left out of the original NZ 12, despite being one of their best players through the season. He was asked to go as a travelling reserve but declined, clearly unhappy with the decision.

NZ lost one player before the tournament began, which probably would have seen him called up. With SBW out, and Weber also suffering a dislocated shoulder, Baker would likely have got a decent amount of playing time.

Not sure what the rules are on Olympic medals. Injured players who took the field, like SBW, might receive them, or else it may be limited to the squad of twelve which finishes the competition.

I think it's good there are upsets. Good for Rugby, good for the Olympics.

I just decided to get firmly on the Japan bandwagon (until they lose). Then, I suppose it will be back to the ruddy GB who will eventually disappoint (and, of course, be chin-up good losers). Or maybe the Americans (give them something to cheer for before their hellish election).

Edited to reflect the way table positions will be calculated: namely:

The top eight will include the first- and second-place teams from each pool, as well as the top two third-place finishers. Each pool adheres to a simple points system: win = 3, tie = 2 and a loss = 1. These points determine where everyone finishes in the pool standings. If teams are tied in points, the tiebreakers are applied in this order: head-to-head, point differential, try differential, points scored. The same methodology is applied to determine the top two third-place teams who move to the quarterfinals.

The mens sevens competition has a different complexion to a tournament in the HSBC series.

A tournament usually starts slowly, with easier games for the top teams. The Olympic schedule pitches teams in at the deep end from the off. Anyone looking rusty has been punished.

Japan are a surprise package for me. They don't feature much in the sevens series, and the JRFU has been slow to commit resources to the side. They have had occasional flashes of excellence before but I didn't expect two strong performances in a row.

Kenya have underperformed so far. GB and NZ were always going to be tough matches but they weren't really at the races in either. The winner of Kenya against Japan will finish third, because head-to-head results are the first determinant of table position for teams on the same. However, unless Kenya smash Japan by a margin 50 or so, then they'll surely have the worst points difference for a 3rd place finisher. Either way, I think they are out of the Olympics. If Japan win, then they will have a positive points differential, which will put them in play.

Argentina looked good against USA, and gave Fiji a run, so they seem favourites for second spot in their pool. Unless USA can beat Fiji, then they will be a third place finisher. They currently have a positive points differential of 21, so they won't want a heavy loss to Fiji.

In the other group, France, Australia both have one win. In the final round, If France beat Spain, then Australia will need to beat South Africa to leave three teams with two wins.

Australia's big loss to France may be their undoing. It was a 31-14 defeat but they only beat Spain by 26-12, so they still have a negative points differential of three. A loss to SA will only increase that number.

If Japan beat Kenya, and USA get a narrow loss to Fiji, then I think that chain of circumstances would see Australia out. Teams in the other pools will be hoping Kenya defeats Japan to make it easier for them to qualify.

Actually, I've been assuming GB will be second if NZ and Japan win, since we beat Japan.

However, three teams will be on two wins and one loss, and we'll have beaten each other: GB>Japan>NZ>GB

In that instance, Points difference will decide. Currently GB +26, NZ +21, Japan 0

Several sources tell me the head to head result has priority in separating teams on the same points but I notice NZ are ahead of Japan in the official table, which can only be because they have a better points difference.

If it really is down to that, then Japan could finish ahead of Kenya even if they lose.

Sorry to give duff information but it's surprisingly difficult to find the official tournament rules.

To me personally it seems ridiculous that a team like NZ can potentially lose 2 out of 3 games in the pool stages and qualify for the quarter finals and still be in medal contention. Not saying that they'll lose to GB but if they do I think they should be out.

One point worth making clear: NZ lost two players to injury yesterday, but I believe tournament rules only allow one replacement once everything is under way, so they may be down to an eleven man squad for the rest of the Olympics.

It probably won't affect their first match against GB today, but it will take a toll if they progress, because there won't be the same scope to rotate players. If a match goes to extra time, then a short-handed squad will find its resources stretched. The final is ten minutes each way, so any team making it that far faces extra demands.

Funnily enough, the NZ coach openly wondered some time ago whether the squad size might be too small in case of a run of injuries.

France beat Spain 26-5, which should be enough to qualify. If Australia lose to South Africa, then they'll only have one win in 3rd place, which might prove perilous.

Australia are back on song and have gone out to a 12-0 lead over South Africa.

South Africa make it 12-5 with two minutes left.

South Africa have been behind all match but they have shown no urgency. I don't know whether they have been prepared to lose this match, so long as the margin is tight, because it will keep players fresh, while still letting them qualify.

Australia win 12-5.

"Thrown the group wide open" says Woodward, even though all matches have now been played in that pool.

Stadium commentator suggesting SA & France go through, with Australia as a 3rd place contender. Will wait for confirmation.

Rugby Fan wrote:Stadium commentator suggesting SA & France go through, with Australia as a 3rd place contender. Will wait for confirmation.

read the same

Japan leading Kenya 14-7 at half time.

Japan 21-7. This is a terrible tournament for Kenya.

Penalty try for Japan, and Kenya draw a yellow card. Think I got the score wrong before because it's 26-7 now, so a conversion was missed along the way.

Rugby Fan wrote:Australia win 12-5.

"Thrown the group wide open" says Woodward, even though all matches have now been played in that pool.

Woodward really is feckin senile

Japan through then. if NZ wins against GB by a narrow margin they could even win the group right?

Japan now 31-7 over Kenya, and they kick the ball out to close the match out.

That gives them a +24 points difference. If NZ beat GB by more than three points, then we might find ourselves in third place, since our difference stands at +26 currently, while NZ are +21.

I think Australia are +14 points difference. If so, GB can lose by eleven points and still be a best 3rd place quarter finalist.

Then again, I'm winging it here.

whocares wrote:Japan through then. if NZ wins against GB by a narrow margin they could even win the group right?

If NZ beat GB by three, then Japan might top the group. They would have the same points difference as NZ but the head-to-head win should count. I may well be wrong.

Great blocking lines run by Joubert there! Good score for Bennett

What a try!!!

yappysnap wrote:Great blocking lines run by Joubert there! Good score for Bennett

That was my thought too. Great skill again by Bennett.

First a Scot, now a Welshman. Two tries for GB.

Poopie GB are tearing it up, good kicks, and look so much quicker then NZ

A Scotsman, a Welshman and an Englishman score a try each...

Let's hope it doesn't turn into a bad joke

Now an Englishman scores on a grubber. Three tries for GB to none - 21-0.

Cubby has got to get a call up to the Welsh squad this Autumn

Few silly pens from GB here, could be costly

Terrible defense from a couple of GB players there. No 8 and 7? Both looked knackered and not thinking

NZ get one back. We tackled the wrong players there, but NZ miss the conversion. 21-5

Gonna be a yc coming GB's way if they're not careful. Looking totally out of it now

Another back for NZ. 21-12

It's all going wrong

2 points in it!!! GB have had 0 possession this half

We need to learn how to close out games!

Yeesssssss

Blimey that was tense

NZ looking threatening again. Back to 21-19

What is the point of Bibby? Useless

We hang on to win 21-19.

Restarts were a bit ropey that 2nd half, a few players looked off the pace in defense too, making the wrong decisions under pressure

Good win but Rodwell is necessary. Don't know what the point of Bibby is. Watson is a better player if you want to stick with an Englishman.

Hazel Sapling wrote:What is the point of Bibby? Useless

Impressive hair though

This pool finishes

GB
Japan
NZ

NZ only have one win, so I think that means Australia are through, because they have two wins.

The other third place might be USA if Fiji beat them, so we'll need to watch their points difference. NZ are +19 while USA are +23. A three point loss for USA against Fiji might see NZ out (assuming Argentina beat Brazil).

Any idea who we'll face or is it too early?

Does this mean that NZ might not qualify? If that was the case would the 7's team be allowed back into the country?

lostinwales wrote:Does this mean that NZ might not qualify? If that was the case would the 7's team be allowed back into the country?

Depends what happens in the last 2 games - NZ could go thru if the last group 3rd place team only has one win and a worse points difference.

could happen tho. I think they would have to go into exile

I think France might face Japan in one quarter final, since they are both second place finishers in their pools.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Any idea who we'll face or is it too early?

Argentina, probably. Assuming they beat Brazil, and Fiji beat USA.