Paris 2024: Shujaa to save face in promotional playoffs as deadly quarterfinal matches are confirmed
25th July 2024
Kenya will meet Uruguay in the 9th place semifinal on Thursday at 2130EAT.
![Shujaa's Brian Tanga. PHOTO| Kelly Ayodi](https://www.sportpesanews.com/images/large/shujaa_s_brian_tanga__photo__kelly_ayodi_0c7ff193ab.jpg)
- Kenya lost all their three pool matches against Argentina, Australia and Samoa.
- New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, France, Fiji, Ireland, Australia and USA booked their places in the last 8.
- Perry Baker became the first man to score four tries in an Olympic sevens match as he helped USA book their spot.
The men’s national rugby 7s side, Shujaa, will take on
Uruguay in the 9th-place semifinal on Thursday night as they look to at least
get a win from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Kevin Wambua-coached side lost all their three Pool B
matches against Argentina, Australia, Samoa and will be playing for nothing but
bragging rights in the positional playoff matches.
Should they win, they will face the winner between Samoa and
Japan in the ninth-place final.
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Elsewhere, four-try Perry Baker drew level with Carlin Isles
on the all-time Olympic try-scorers’ list on as USA, France, and South Africa
made sure of quarter-final places on the second day of the Olympic Games taking
place at Stade de France.
USA will face Australia in the last eight following Baker’s
exploits against Uruguay on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, defending two-time champions Fiji extended their
perfect Olympic record to finish top of Pool C, and set up a quarter-final
against Ireland.
Hosts France will face Argentina in Thursday evening’s
quarter-finals in a repeat of the SVNS Grand Final, after finishing second in
their Pool on points difference.
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In the other quarter-final, New Zealand face South Africa.
New Zealand left it late to win a dramatic Pool A decider against Ireland 14-12
while South Africa signed off from the pool phase with a convincing seven-try
49-5 victory over Japan to set up their quarter-final clash with the All Blacks
Sevens.
Australia finished top of Pool B after beating Argentina
22-14 in the Pool B decider. Earlier, Samoa won the battle of the day-one
crowd-pleasers as they beat Kenya 24-0 at a sun-soaked Stade de France.
Fiji sevens legend Jerry Tuwai – the only rugby player to
hold two Olympic gold medals - scored as the defending champions maintained
their perfect Olympic winning record, beating hosts France 19-12 in a thrilling
and physical encounter to finish top of Pool C.
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Earlier, Perry Baker became the first man to score four
tries in an Olympic sevens match as they beat Uruguay 33-17 to book their place
in the knockout phase of the men’s rugby sevens competition with their second
win in Pool C.
Only Reapi Ulunisau, of Fiji’s women’s team, had scored four
tries in a game before. Baker is now level with former team-mate Carlin Isles
as the most prolific Olympic men’s try scorer, with nine.
The quarter-final action begins at 2200 EAT on Thursday evening with another packed house expected at Stade de France.
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Playing Schedule
9th place semis
Samoa vs Japan - 9 PM
Kenya vs Uruguay - 9:30 PM
Quarterfinals
New Zealand vs South Africa - 10 PM
Argentina vs France - 10:30 PM
Fiji vs Ireland - 11 PM
Australia vs USA - 11:30 PM
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