1st minute: Iosefo Baleiwairiki gallops through a pretty poor Irish defence and Fiji take the lead
Fiji 7 Ireland 0
And we’re off and running in Paris
The teams are on the pitch and Ireland are in a huddle. New Zealand’s Nick Hogan is tonight’s referee
Just time to catch your breath before the Ireland v Fiji game gets underway in 5 minutes
Full-time: France 26 Argentina 14 - Antoine Dupont - who else - scores the sealing try for France and the hosts will face South Africa in the semi-finals.
Argentina have fought back here with two tries and it’s now France 21 Argentina 14 with just over 2 minutes to go
France start the second half 21-0 up on Argentina
The starting line-ups are posted for the Ireland v Fiji game and Hugo Keenan is named among the replacements, with Gavin Mullin coming into the side in the only change to the run-on team from the loss to New Zealand.
IRELAND
3 Harry McNulty (capt)
4 Mark Roche
5 Zac Ward
7 Jordan Conroy
10 Terry Kennedy
11 Gavin Mullin
12 Niall Comerford
Replacements
1 Jack Kelly
2 Andrew Smith
6 Chay Mullins
8 Hugo Keenan
9 Hugo Lennox
FIJI
2 Joseva Talacolo
5 Iosefo Baleiwairiki
9 Jerry Tuwai (capt)
10 Iowane Teba
11 Kaminieli Rasaku
12 Selesitino Ravutaumada
13 Raisuqe Josaia
Replacements
1 Joji Nasova
3 Jeremaia Matana
7 Terio Tamani Veilawa
8 Waisea Nacuqu
14 Filipe Sauturaga
Fiji’s starting side unchanged from the win over France earlier.
France have scored twice in two minutes and the Stade de France has erupted as the hosts lead 14-0 in the first half.
The second quarter-final sees hosts France take on Argentina, with Ireland and Fiji after that.
Well maybe Ireland can look to the first quarter-final as the Blitzboks have stunned the All Blacks in winning 14-7 to make the semi-finals.
Good evening and welcome back to our coverage of the men’s Rugby Sevens quarter-final between two-times champions Fiji and Ireland at the Stade de France.
The game kicks-off at 9.0pm Irish time and Ireland will have to put aside the fact that they left a gilt-edged opportunity behind them against New Zealand earlier in the day by letting slip a 12-0 lead at half-time to lose 14-12 to the All Blacks in their final Pool A game.
It puts the mighty Fiji in Ireland’s way to the medal matches and it’s a rather large roadblock.
Rugby Sevens is the national sport of the Pacific Island nation and their domination since the event was introduced back in Rio in 2016 is complete.
They’ve played 15 matches and won all 15 to date, on an average scoreline of 27.6 to 11, hammering Great Britain 43-7 in the final in Rio and the All Blacks by 27-12 in Tokyo three years ago.
Earlier this afternoon they beat hosts France 19-12 in their final pool game, meaning they have beaten the host nation in the last three Olympic Games.
Here’s a list of their 15 wins to date
2016
Fiji 40 Brazil 12
Fiji 21 Argentina 14
Fiji 24 USA 19
QF Fiji 12 NZ 7
SF Fiji 20 Japan 5
F Fiji 43 GB 7
2020 (took place in 2021)
Fiji 24 Japan 19
Fiji 28 Canada 14
Fiji 33 GB 7
QF Fiji 19 Australia 0
SF Fiji 26 Argentina 14
F Fiji 27 NZ 12
2024
Fiji 40 Uruguay 12
Fiji 38 USA 12
Fiji 19 France 12
Right then, so what do Ireland have to do to pull off the upset of all upsets in the quarter-final?
Well firstly they’ll need a performance over 14 minutes, rather than the excellent first half followed by poor second half we saw against New Zealand earlier.
And they’ll mist certainly have to get rid of the missed tackles as Fiji will ruthlessly exploit any opportunities that arise this evening.
Join me later on for Ireland’s quarter-final match at 9pm
Ireland have a final possession but New Zealand win the penalty and that is that.
Full-time: New Zealand 14 Ireland 12
So Ireland must face the mighty Fiji in tonight’s quarter-finals, with the game kicking off at 9.0pm Irish time, 10pm in Paris if you’re lucky to have a ticket for the Stade de France.
The missed Ireland tackles in the build-up to Ngarohi McGarvey-Black’s try were crucial in the end, with Andrew Knewstubb’s conversion a great drop-goal conversion under pressure.
Olympic Games Men’s Sevens Quarter-Finals (all times Irish)
New Zealand v South Africa, 8.0
Argentina v France, 8.30
Fiji v Ireland, 9.0
Australia v USA, 9.30
If Ireland can bring Fiji’s unbeaten Olympic record to an end they will face the winners of the Australia v USA quarter-final in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Replacements on both sides as we enter the last two minutes with Ireland still leading by 5 points.
New Zealand 7 Ireland 12
Ireland miss a couple of key tackles and here come the All Blacks
TRY NEW ZEALAND - Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
New Zealand 14 Ireland 12
New Zealand land the conversion so Ireland need to win possession from the kick-off
4th minute: Ireland with plenty of possession and the All Blacks are feeling the pace of this game
5th minute: Ireland have a penalty close to the line
Ireland don’t release on the ground and New Zealand have possession
Second half is underway
1st minute: New Zealand 7 Ireland 12 - Leroy Carter runs in right under the post after a couple of missed tackles from Ireland.
HALF-TIME: New Zealand 0 Ireland 12: Jordan Conroy gets over but it’s gone to the TMO. It’s been given and Ireland lead 12-0 at the break after Roche converts.
Jordan Conroy took a knock in scoring that try and not sure yet if he’ll be able to continue. Looks like a thigh muscle injury.
New Zealand 0 Ireland 5 - TRY ZAC WARD
Proud day for the Ward family, dad Andy with a foot in both camps having been born in Ireland before moving to Ballynahinch, Ulster and Ireland.
New Zealand 0 Ireland 0
4th minute: The All Blacks also sloppy with ball in hand as both sides showing nerves in Paris. AB’s done for not releasing in the tackle and another kick for possession from Mark Roche.
3rd minute: Hugo Keenan knocks on with the line at his mercy and that is a butchered opportunity
We are underway in Paris
1st minute: Ireland win a penalty and Mark Roche kicks for possession and Ireland’s lineout clicks and we have a first look at Terry Kennedy in action. Good start and a second penalty for Ireland.
The teams head out on the pitch with a huge Stade de France crowd giving Ireland a great ovation. Plenty of green in the crowd. Australia’s Jordan Way is this afternoon’s referee.
IRELAND
3 Harry McNulty (capt)
4 Mark Roche
5 Zac Ward
7 Jordan Conroy
8 Hugo Keenan
10 Terry Kennedy
12 Niall Comerford
Replacements
1 Jack Kelly
2 Andrew Smith
6 Chay Mullins
9 Hugo Lennox
11 Gavin Mullin
ALL BLACKS
1 Scott Curry
4 Akuila Rokolisoa
5 Dylan Collier (capt)
7 Fehi Fineanganofo
11 Leo Moses
12 Leroy Carter
13 Joe Webber
Replacements
2 Brady Rush
3 Tone Ng Shiu
6 Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
8 Andrew Lnewstubb
10 Tepaea Cook-Savage
Referee: Jordan Way (Aus)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (GB), Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
Full-time: South Africa 49 Japan 5 - So that’s confirmed, the winners of the Ireland v All Blacks game will face South Africa at 8.0pm tonight Irish time in the first of the quarter-finals, while the losers will take on Fiji at 9pm.
10 minutes until kick-off at the Stade de France and we’ll have the line-ups next.
The Blitzboks have lived up to their name in the first half of the other Pool A encounter, running in five tries to lead 35-0 as they look to book one of the two third-placed finisher spots and qualify for the quarter-finals. And that could see them play the winners of Pool A in a rematch of their pool encounter in the last eight.
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Ireland’s third and final Pool A game against New Zealand at the Stade de France (kick-off 3.30pm). Both sides have already qualified for the quarter-finals but there’s a whole load on the line in this encounter if you look at potential quarter-final match-ups.
The winners of Pool A will meet the eighth-placed qualifier, the lower ranked of the two best third-placed pool finishers, while the runners-up will face Sevens powerhouse Fiji, who have never lost a Sevens match on their way to back-to-back men’s Olympic titles. Fiji saw off France 19-12 in their final Pool C game in the last half-hour and have looked the best side by far in the tournament.
We’ll know all the quarter-final pairing following the Ireland v New Zealand clash as it’s the last of the pool games, with the quarter-finals taking place from 8pm Irish time tonight. If Ireland top Pool A they will be in action at 8pm. Lose and it’s Fiji at 9pm.
The All Blacks currently sit in top spot on the basis of points scored, with both sides equal on points difference (+40) and try difference (+6). Ireland beat the Springboks 10-5 in their opening game at the Stade de France on Thursday before a much more comfortable 40-5 win over Japan last night where they ran in six tries. New Zealand beat Japan 40-12 in their opener before beating the Blitzboks 17-5.
