Australia’s rugby sevens men have fought back from a deflating quarter-final exit at the Singapore world series event to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.
Nick Malouf’s team were hammered in the last-eight on Sunday by Argentina, who ran in five tries against them in a 29-12 trouncing.
But the Aussies, seeking valuable points in their bid to be one of the four teams to join hosts France at the Paris 2024 Games, rebounded by beating Uruguay 31-12 and Great Britain 24-21 to take fifth place in the tournament.
It earned them enough points to keep them in the final qualification spot with just two rounds of the World Series left, in Toulouse and London.
But it’s set to be a close battle for the final spot with New Zealand having sealed their place in Paris with another series triumph on Sunday and both Argentina and Fiji well set in second and third place.
New Zealand, who pipped Argentina 19-17 in the final to take their fourth title in the last five world series tournaments, now have 164 points, with Argentina (140) and Fiji (130) well set in second and third place.
Australia, fifth behind France, have 112 points but will have to improve to fight off the challenge of Samoa, just one point behind, and South Africa’s ‘Blitzboks’ on 106.
“It’s getting pretty tight for that last Olympic qualification spot,” conceded Malouf. “Every point is valuable for us.”
His side were grateful for a starring performance from Dietrich Roache in their fifth place play-off against GB as he scored a try, kicked two conversions and created the first of Darby Lancaster’s two second-half touchdowns that settled a tight affair.
But there was again no stopping New Zealand, who took their first Singapore crown since 2005 after Brady Rush powered in for the decisive try in the final against Argentina.
Samoa’s defeat by Argentina in the semi-final meant the All Blacks were already assured of their place in Paris before taking the field for their own last-four match against Fiji, which they won 19-10.
If New Zealand reach the final in the next event in Toulouse, they will wrap up the overall world series crown, taking over from coach John Manenti’s Australian side, who lifted the title for the first time in 2022.