FRANCE stole the show in front of home fans to beat the Fiji men’s side 28-7 in the gold medal final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris yesterday.
Led by an inspirational Antoine Dupont, the French turned an early 7-nil deficit to win the match 28-7.
Defending champions Fiji were the first to score in the gold medal match, a flowing Fiji stretching the French defence to create space for Joseva Talacolo to cross.
France soon had one for themselves, a brilliant run from youngster Andy Timo finding Jefferson-Lee Joseph, who dived over to tie things up at 7-7.
The score stayed the same until the break, but from the kick-off France immediately got themselves ahead, Antoine Dupont running 60 metres before handing the ball to Grandidier Nkanang for their second try.
France had the momentum and continued to threaten the Fiji line, and after a string of penalties France eventually had their third through Dupont, muscling over from a tap penalty five metres out.
France could feel the weight of the gold medal around their necks with a minute to go, and with a lineout as the clock went red, they went for one last attack, Dupont crossing the line for his second as celebrations engulfed the Stade de France.
Earlier, Fiji had hammered Australia 31-7 while France accounted for South Africa 19-5. |
