Saint-Denis, France ¨C In a game that was essentially already decided, a huge roar went up from the crowd when Japan¡¯s Taiga Ishida scored a try against New Zealand in the waning seconds of their match.
It was one of the few bright spots for Team Japan in a 40-12 loss against New Zealand in its first game at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
The men¡¯s rugby sevens event began two days before the opening ceremony with 12 matches at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France.
¡°First game is always tough in sevens,¡± Japan¡¯s Josua Kerevi said. ¡°(New Zealand is) one of the best teams in the world. We came out prepared for the tall boys in the kickoff. The chances we had with the ball in our hands, we did what we wanted to do.
¡°We scored two tries. We were happy we could use some stuff we had prepared in training.¡±
There were cheers when Japan scored a quick try and conversion to tie the score at 7-7 just over three minutes into the match. Kerevi played a key role, kicking the ball ahead to Shotaro Tsuoka, who found space and scored to answer New Zealand¡¯s opening try.
Things went awry for the Japanese quickly.
New Zealand¡¯s Fehi Fineanganofo scored a pair of tries, and Akuila Rokolisoa made one of two conversion attempts to make the score 19-7. Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored near the end of the first half, and Rokolisoa converted to make it 26-7.
Rokolisoa and McGarvey-Black each scored a try in the second half, and New Zealand scored on both conversion attempts to push the lead to 40-7.
Ishida made the scoreline look better for the Japanese, though Kazuma Ueda missed the conversion.
Japan had a quick turnaround with its second game, against Ireland, scheduled to take place later Wednesday night.
¡°I am frustrated, but I am just trying to switch my focus on the next match,¡± Junya Matsumoto said.
Japan lost again later Wednesday night, falling to Ireland 40-5.
¡°We just do not give up, no matter what,¡± Ireland¡¯s Zac Ward said. ¡°I am definitely pleased with both games. At the start of the day, we wanted to win two games, so job done, and now we can relax.
¡°The magic span is between games. You have to hold yourself up high and hopefully tomorrow we get to do it again.¡±
Ireland will face New Zealand, which beat South Africa in the final game on Wednesday, on Thursday.
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