Ireland have been eliminated from medal contention in the men's rugby sevens competition at the Olympics, coming up short in 19-15 loss to Fiji in their quarter-final clash in Paris this evening.
It was a serious effort from the Irish contingent, who faced the two-time defending champions in the last eight. Fiji had never lost a game in Olympic competition up to this evening, although they looked in danger of doing so for periods of this contest.
The Fijians opened the scoring with a try inside the opening seconds, although Ireland would have the better of the play over the remainder of the first half. A pair of tries from Chay Mullins had them 10-7 in the lead at the interval.
That lead was extended to 15-7 straight after the restart, with Zac Ward crossing in the corner. However, that would be Ireland's final score of the game. Fiji would go on to score two more tries to run as 19-15 winners.
In saying that, there seemed to be a hint of controversy surrounding their winning try.
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With Fiji getting back within one score after their second try of the game, they would go on to take the lead immediately from the restart.
Hugo Keenan was beaten to the ball in the air in, with Waisea Nacuqu gathering the loose ball and streaking in for the score.
However, the ball looked like it had come forward from a Fijian hand.
The referee missed it on the field at the time, but the TMO did not review the play either despite some groans in the stadium as replays flashed up on the big screen.
Clear knock on from Fiji that leads directly to the winning try over the heart broken Ireland team. How was this not checked by the TMO in an Olympic quarter final? If the TMO isn’t allowed to check it’s even more ludicrous pic.twitter.com/SIa4Gy1Dok
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) July 25, 2024
Fairly clearcut.
Quite a few rugby fans were quick to point out what looked like an obvious error from the officiating team.
Are we going mad or was that not a clear Fiji knock on for their try?
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 25, 2024
That’s CLEARLY a Fiji knock on
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) July 25, 2024
Ireland done by the ref missing a knock on from the kick off which leads to the winning try for Fiji. Can the TMO not intervene in 7s when it leads to a try? Shocking
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) July 25, 2024
Fiji knock on??
— Simon Hick (@hicksimon) July 25, 2024
That was a very clear knock on for the Fiji 3rd try. TMO not even checked. That’s crazy. Ireland robbed there. #RugbySevens
— Jack Gould (@JackGould431) July 25, 2024
Are you aloud to knock on from a kick off in 7's? Bad miss from the TMO on that Fiji knock on. #RugbySevens
— Age H (@Agehanny) July 25, 2024
This certainly seemed like an error from the referee, one that has now cost Ireland a shot at an Olympic medal on Saturday.
The outcome of this game could have been very different had this decision went their way.
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