Women's Olympic Sevens quarter-final line-up decided as Ireland squeak through
The full Paris 2024 women's quarter-final line-up has been confirmed following another action-packed session of sevens at Stade de France.
New Zealand, Australia and hosts France each head into the last eight unbeaten having completed a clean sweep of their pool-stage matches with victories against Fiji, Ireland and USA respectively on Monday afternoon.
USA had already qualified for the quarter-finals ahead of their defeat to France and finished Pool C in second behind Les Bleues Sevens, while Canada beat China to the runners-up spot in Pool A, winning the sides' encounter 26-17. Great Britain claimed a 26-17 victory against South Africa to do likewise in Pool B.
China could console themselves with a place in the quarter-finals as the second best third-placed team, with Ireland sealing seventh seed for the knockout stages despite their energy-sapping 19-14 defeat to Rio 2016 gold medallists, Australia.
Having potentially come within an Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe knock-on of beating Australia, Ireland will get another crack at the SVNS Grand Final winners on Monday evening when the teams meet for the second time on day two, in the quarter-finals.
The Black Ferns Sevens, meanwhile, will play China – who they beat 43-5 on Sunday – in the quarters, while Great Britain will take on USA and France meet Canada.
Earlier Japan secured their first ever Olympic pool-stage victory, beating Brazil 39-12 to maintain their slim hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
China ultimately edged them to the final place in the last eight on points difference, and Japan must now prepare for a ninth-place semi-final against South Africa. Fiji will play Brazil in the other ninth-place semi-final.
Monday's action will resume at 20:00 local time (GMT+2) when the ninth-placed semi-finals kick off before the quarter-finals get underway an hour later.
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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