Any one of the four semi-finalists would have been worthy winners and rather wonderfully the includes the Fiji team who took bronze just five years after the women’s programme was formed on their island nation. The first Olympic medals ever won by a Fijian woman.
The athletic, skilful, and gritty Fijian women lit up the competition but ultimately it was a well-drilled and very pacy New Zealand team that saved their best for last and deservedly took gold with a 26-12 win over France in the final.
Fiji meanwhile defeated Great Britain 21-12 in the third-place playoff game – a tumultuous final day watched by IOC president Thomas Bach who must have been left wondering why it took his organisation so long to get rugby back into the Olympics.
It started with marginal favourites New Zealand scraping into the final with a golden point extra-time try by Gayle Broughton to beat the Fijians 22-17. A thunderous game had been levelled in the final minute of extra-time with a try by the outstanding Reapi Ulunisau.
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra August 01, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
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Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
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Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
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Barrington ready to power up the Mob
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Skivington keen to build identity
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Roebuck targets England success
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Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
