Updated
Gutted coach John Manenti hopes he saw the path for future success as his beaten Australians sat on the sideline for an Antoine Dupont Olympic rugby sevens masterclass in France.
A Dupont-inspired France took gold over Fiji after Australia, into the semi-finals for the first time, lost both their games on Saturday to finish fourth.
South Africa’s Tristan Leyds, right, is grabbed by his shirt by Australia’s James Turner during the men’s bronze medal Rugby Sevens match.Credit: AP
Australia led Fiji 7-0 in the semi-final before halftime but barely touched the ball again in a 31-7 loss.
A man down, Australia threatened an incredible comeback, only for South Africa to score after the siren and win their bronze medal match 26-19.
Two-time defending champions Fiji then tasted their first loss in Olympic competition in a pulsating final, French 15-a-side captain Dupont scoring twice and setting up another in a 28-7 triumph.
Manenti and his side sat on the carpeted athletics track to soak in that masterclass from one of the code’s best, the coach able to look ahead to Brisbane’s 2032 Games while wondering what could have been.
“We are not funded as a gold medal program and that’s what we’re trying to get to,” he said.
“Hopefully the powers that be can see we’re in
…. to be continued
Read full article at the Original Source
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : The Sydney Morning Herald – https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tough-calls-aussies-see-red-as-rugby-bronze-goes-begging-20240728-p5jx5s.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
