Fijiana upsets Aussies at Tokyo Olympics

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Members of the Fijiana 7s team. Picture: SUPPLIED

Tears flowed as the defending women’s 7s Olympic Games gold medallist Australia were shut out of by a magical Fijiana side 14-12 during their quarter-final clash in Tokyo on Friday night.

Two quick first-half tries by Alowesi Nakoci and Ana Maria Naimasi coupled by a stonewall defence saw our shield maidens bring the country alight once more as they marched into the final four.

Australia’s Charlotte Caslick did everything possible to turn it when she ran in a try from halfway with 45 seconds left.

But an Australian restart with 14 seconds, the Fijiana never let them have another chance.

The impact was immediate as the champions realised what had just occurred.

“It was really hard,” Caslick told RugbyAU.

“Probably one of the hardest games of sevens I’ve ever played.”

“Credit to the Fijian girls for coming out as hard as they did, They were really awesome.

“I guess we shifted the momentum but we just didn’t have enough time. Once you have momentum in sevens it’s really, really hard to change it.

“There was space there but we probably played to their game, not ours.”

Rio gold medallist Caslick tried to compare the elation of 2016 with the despair of Tokyo when asked.

“When I ran out and I was in the tunnel I can’t even remember what I felt like in Rio. I know I’m going to remember this. That sucks,” Caslick said.

“It’s completely different. We are at the other end of the spectrum.”

Caslick tipped the New Zealanders, with their control, to take the gold medal but wished bigger things too for the Fijian girls.

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