Shuji Kajiyama/AP
New Zealand's William Warbrick goes in for the try against Argentina in pool play at the Tokyo Olympics.
Korea crushed. Argentina dispatched. It's so far so good for the All Blacks Sevens in their quest for Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Clairk Laidlaw's men opened the Olympic tournament at Tokyo Stadium on Monday with a degree of style, running away from the outmatched Republic of Korea 50-5 in the early session, and then returning to clinically dismantle a dangerous Argentina side 35-14 in the second stanza.
The Argentina effort, after a somewhat shaky start, was a definite step up from the New Zealanders as they put away a side fresh off a 29-19 upset of the Australians to dash to the top of Pool A, with just the Aussies to come to complete the group phase on Tuesday.
Argentina looked well in the race early on after scoring the opening try via Marcos Moneta (on a tackle miss from Regan Ware), and would still have been feeling good about themselves when they went into the halftime break down 14-7 after Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and Sione Molia worked their magic for the Kiwis.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Tone Ng Shiu looks for the gap against Argentina as New Zealand won both matches to open pool play at the Olympic sevens.
Luciano Gonzalez exposed Molia's defence to put the South Americans back on terms early in the second spell, but from there it was all New Zealand. Joe Webber opened the defence up on halfway after a long period of possession, veteran Tim Mikkelson made it 28-14 when he broke through a weak tackle and William Warbrick sealed the deal when he dashed on to Andrew Knewstubb's perfectly weighted grubber.
Laidlaw will no doubt have something to say about a couple of tackle misses, but would otherwise be happy about an opening day that has set the table nicely for a side desperate to atone for their Olympic failure on debut in 2016.
The Kiwis are desperate to add Olympic gold to their world series, World Cup and Commonwealth Games triumphs. They were beaten by eventual gold medallists Fiji in the quarterfinals in Rio after losing twice in pool play.
Earlier they had little trouble dealing with the inexperienced Koreans who paid the price for being on the wrong end of two yellow cards in the second half.
The New Zealanders ran in eight tries in total, including a penalty try, after leading just 14-5 at halftime as the feisty part-timers marked their first half of Olympic sevens action with a couple of bright moments and a surprise five-pointer.
Kenji Demura/Photosport
Tim Mikkelson breaches the Korea defence in New Zealand's impressive Olympic sevens opener in Tokyo.
But normal service was restored after the break as the Koreans were knocked off their stride when Chang Yong Heung and Park Wanyong were both carded for illegal plays at the ball on defence. That allowed the Kiwis to cut loose with six tries over the run home as they made the most of their numerical advantage.
Knewstubb and Mikkelson crossed for the New Zealanders in the first spell, while Mikkelson, Warbrick (twice), Etene Nanai-Seturo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black completed the scoring action, along with a penalty try.
Argentina had earlier held off a furious finish to stun the Australians 29-19 and take a major stride towards a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Argentines had raced away to a 24-0 halftime lead on the back of tries to Lucio Cinti, Matias Osadczuk, Moneta and Ignacio Mendy in the opening stanza.
Shuji Kajiyama/AP
Members of Team Fiji hold the ball before the start of their men's rugby sevens match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
But the Aussies gave themselves a sniff when they ran in two tries to super-sub Josh Turner and a blockbusting solo effort to Samu Kerevi to close to 24-19 with time still on the clock.
However they could only bat the restart loose, allowing Argentina's Lautaro Bazan Velez to scoop up the ball and race away for the match-clincher after the final hooter.
Australia kept themselves in the quarterfinal hunt with a 42-5 runaway victory over Korea to wrap up the opening day.
Defending gold medallists Fiji had a mixed day in Pool B, pushed to the limit before grinding out a 24-19 comeback victory over hosts Japan (after trailing 19-12 early in the second spell), and then rolling past Canada 30-14 to go 2-0 for opening day.
Much more impressive were group rivals Great Britain who shut out Canada 24-0, and then returned to crush hosts Japan 34-0 to set up their Tuesday pool decider against the Fijians splendidly.
Rio bronze medallists South Africa kicked off pool C with a 33-14 victory over Ireland, while the US won a thriller, 19-14 over Kenya, in the group's other match of the opening session. The Kenyans looked to have snatched victory at the death when Willy Ambaka raced on to a kick-through with just over a minute remaining but a brilliant defensive play by Mata Leuta dislodged the ball and a Madison Hughes try at the death snatched the win for the Americans.
Read more from the original source:
Tokyo Olympics: New Zealand go two from two on opening day of men's sevens - Stuff.co.nz
- New Zealand-shaped front brings heavy rain, wild winds, and flood risk - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- If Aldi's not coming to New Zealand, who will shake up our supermarkets? - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- What dairy farming is doing to NZ's water - RNZ - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- New Zealand likely to have 'record high imports' of coal in 2021 - officials - RNZ - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- 'Aotearoa New Zealand': What if it went to a vote? - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- This is New Zealand's best pie - and for the first time in awards history, a woman baked it - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- The best New Zealand airport to fly into, according to Air New Zealand's chief pilot - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Air New Zealand 'willing and able' to increase flights from Australia - RNZ - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Tokyo Olympics 2020: Live updates - New Zealand athletes and events in action, how to watch in NZ, live streaming - New Zealand Herald - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Covid-19: The cost of keeping New Zealand safe - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Winston Reid's New Zealand edged out by Honduras in Olympics - West Ham United F.C. - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- New Zealand is not the world's post-Covid future - Stuff.co.nz - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Where to Survive the End of the World? Head to New Zealand - The Daily Beast - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Karate New Zealand - HOME - July 31st, 2021 [July 31st, 2021]
- Rugby: Resolution found? All Blacks set to leave New Zealand next week - New Zealand Herald - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- 13yo becomes one of New Zealand's youngest COVID-19 vaccine recipients at drive-through vaccination centre - Newshub - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Coronavirus: New Zealand needs high uptake of vaccine to mitigate cases, hospitalisations, deaths once borders reopen - study - Newshub - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Tiny New Zealand airport that tells Mori love story in running for global design award - The Guardian - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Opinion: Stop putting a spin on New Zealand's vaccination numbers, we are woefully behind - Newshub - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- New Zealand was set to be the first advanced economy to hike rates. One Covid case put a stop to it - CNBC - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Lockdowns or vaccines? Japan, New Zealand and Australia try diverging paths - CHEK - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- New Zealand to skip Paralympic opening ceremony over virus fears - FRANCE 24 - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- In New Zealand it has been easy to forget Covid. Now we are too complacent - The Guardian - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Australia-New Zealand rugby relations have sunk to a new low. It will take time to regain trust - The Guardian - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Who is New Zealand?: the moment Tampa refugees were told some had a new home - The Guardian - August 24th, 2021 [August 24th, 2021]
- Is living in Australia really better than New Zealand? - Stuff - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Car pollution kills thousands in New Zealand every year - 1News - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Matt Williams: Irish side must find way to play best rugby of their lives if New Zealand are to be beaten - The Irish Times - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Ireland rugby tour of New Zealand 2022: When is it, how many fixtures are planned, and how to watch - The Telegraph - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- UK and New Zealand govt advise citizens against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka - Times of India - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- New Zealand Baha'is concerned for nephew imprisoned in Iran - Stuff - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Over 100 Moriori ancestral remains returned to New Zealand in biggest repatriation yet - Newshub - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- PM meeting with Prime Minister of New Zealand: 1 July 2022 - GOV.UK - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Air New Zealand hiring hundreds of staff to avoid travel chaos hitting airlines and airports overseas - New Zealand Herald - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- NZ-Australia relationship appears to be on the way up under the Albanese government - Stuff - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- New Zealand's chocolate exports grow by 40% in three years - 1News - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Community Scoop Youth-Led New Zealand Immigration Webinar Welcomed By Community - Scoop - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Australia begins bilateral talks with New Zealand on treaty and reconciliation with First Nations people - ABC News - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Navy frigate returns to New Zealand after major upgrade in Canada - RNZ - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- The 50 greatest New Zealand logos, ranked - The Spinoff - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- New Zealand Wants to Tax Cow Burps and Farts - Modern Farmer - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- New Zealand's Major Grower-Owned Co-Operative is Assuming a Refreshed Logo and Identity - PerishableNews - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Government rejects Samoan deportee's bid to stay in New Zealand - New Zealand Herald - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- New Zealand to embark on worlds largest feral predator eradication - The Guardian - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- A new Omicron wave is upon New Zealand, with older people now most at risk heres what to expect - The Conversation - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Reports of fireball over New Zealand in what scientists think was rare daytime meteor - The Guardian - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Ireland Team To Face New Zealand In 2nd Test - Munster Rugby - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- New Zealand FMA appoints Margot Gatland as Head of Enforcement - FinanceFeeds - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- ACT proposing to fine parents of truant children to tackle New Zealand's 'shocking' attendance rates - Newshub - November 28th, 2022 [November 28th, 2022]
- Air New Zealand Limited (NZSE:AIR) insiders have profited after buying stock worth NZ$3.8m last year, current gains stand at NZ$737k - Simply Wall St - December 30th, 2022 [December 30th, 2022]
- Watch: Shardul Thakur's Last-Over Yorker That Sealed India's Win vs New Zealand In 1st ODI - NDTV Sports - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- Cost of living: New Zealand food prices grow 11.3 percent, biggest increase in more than three decades - Newshub - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- New Zealand | History, Map, Flag, Capital, Population, & Facts - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to resign - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- Welcome to New Zealand | Official site for Tourism New Zealand - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- This New Zealand Clothing Line Has Just Released a Range Dedicated to Pizza Hut's Hawaiian Pizza - Concrete Playground Brisbane - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- New Zealand-bound plane flies 13 hours only to land where it took off - Fox Business - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- New Zealand's biggest city braces for more heavy rains after deadly floods - CNN - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- New Zealand Maps & Facts - World Atlas - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]