The All Blacks Sevens team lost 14-7 to South Africa in the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics, ending their hopes of winning a medal.
This result comes after the Kiwis won a silver medal in Tokyo and aimed for gold this year.
In a tough match, New Zealand fell behind early. South Africa’s captain, Rosko Specman, scored the first try, and another quick try gave South Africa a 14-0 lead.
New Zealand’s Moses Leo managed to score a try just before halftime, with Akuila Rokolisoa converting to make it 14-7. Despite several opportunities in the second half, New Zealand couldn’t break through South Africa’s strong defense.
South Africa advanced to the semifinals, and New Zealand will now compete in the 5th-8th place matches. South Africa had qualified for the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed teams.
Captain Scott Curry expressed his disappointment, saying, “A lot of those boys were in tears walking off; they gave everything they had for four years.” Curry, participating in his third Olympics, praised South Africa’s performance and thanked fans for their support.
The All Blacks Sevens will now focus on finishing the tournament strong in the placement matches.
Aww that’s so sad we were setting our sights on gold this year.