Australia’s rugby sevens males have fought again from a deflating quarter-final exit on the Singapore world collection occasion to maintain alive their hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.
Nick Malouf’s crew had been hammered within the last-eight on Sunday by Argentina, who ran in 5 tries towards them in a 29-12 trouncing.
However the Aussies, in search of priceless factors of their bid to be one of many 4 groups to hitch hosts France on the Paris 2024 Video games, rebounded by beating Uruguay 31-12 and Nice Britain 24-21 to take fifth place within the match.
It earned them sufficient factors to maintain them within the ultimate qualification spot with simply two rounds of the World Sequence left, in Toulouse and London.
However it’s set to be an in depth battle for the ultimate spot with New Zealand having sealed their place in Paris with one other collection triumph on Sunday and each Argentina and Fiji properly set in second and third place.
New Zealand, who pipped Argentina 19-17 within the ultimate to take their fourth title within the final 5 world collection tournaments, now have 164 factors, with Argentina (140) and Fiji (130) properly set in second and third place.
Australia, fifth behind France, have 112 factors however should enhance to combat off the problem of Samoa, only one level behind, and South Africa’s ‘Blitzboks’ on 106.
“It is getting fairly tight for that final Olympic qualification spot,” conceded Malouf. “Each level is effective for us.”
His aspect had been grateful for a starring efficiency from Dietrich Roache of their fifth place play-off towards GB as he scored a strive, kicked two conversions and created the primary of Darby Lancaster’s two second-half touchdowns that settled a good affair.
However there was once more no stopping New Zealand, who took their first Singapore crown since 2005 after Brady Rush powered in for the decisive strive within the ultimate towards Argentina.
Samoa’s defeat by Argentina within the semi-final meant the All Blacks had been already assured of their place in Paris earlier than taking the sector for their very own last-four match towards Fiji, which they gained 19-10.
If New Zealand attain the ultimate within the subsequent occasion in Toulouse, they’ll wrap up the general world collection crown, taking up from coach John Manenti’s Australian aspect, who lifted the title for the primary time in 2022.
