In a thrilling Olympic men’s rugby sevens quarter-final, France delivered a commanding performance to defeat Argentina 26-14, advancing to the semi-finals in front of a lively Parisian crowd at the Stade de France.
London-born winger Aaron Grandidier was the star of the match, scoring two impressive tries and leading the celebrations with 70,000 passionate French fans. This victory was especially sweet for Les Bleus, as tensions between the two nations have been high due to recent controversies in football.
A Grudge Match for the Ages
The animosity between France and Argentina stems from the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup. Many French fans were upset by what they considered excessive celebrations by the Argentinian team, including the singing of a song deemed racist toward the French players. As a result, Argentina’s rugby team, Los Pumas, was met with boos from the Parisian crowd as they entered the stadium.
Despite the hostile atmosphere, France remained focused and determined to assert their dominance on the field. From the start, they matched the intensity of the crowd, channeling it into a fierce performance.
“I know we’ve only just won a quarter-final, but the emotions we’re experiencing in this stadium are unprecedented,” Grandidier told BBC Sport. “It is truly moving. Having 69,000 people for a game of sevens has never been seen in history.”
Grandidier Leads France to a Memorable Victory
Following a series of lackluster performances in the pool stage, where they finished second to Fiji, France needed to make a statement, and they did just that.
Back-rower Andy Timo opened the scoring just two minutes into the game, followed by two electrifying tries from Grandidier, whose dual heritage of an English father and a French mother adds a unique element to his game. Rayan Rebbadj’s successful conversions put France ahead 21-0 at halftime, despite key player Antoine Dupont starting on the bench.
“We knew we had to start strong against a team like Argentina,” said Grandidier. “They have been formidable this season. If we didn’t put in an XXL performance against them, we knew we would be in trouble.”
After halftime, Argentina fought back with tries from Rodrigo Isgro and Marcos Moneta, narrowing the gap to 21-14. However, the introduction of Dupont, the dynamic 15s superstar and face of the Games, provided France with the stability and flair needed to thwart Argentina’s comeback.
Dupont capped off the victory with a late try, ensuring that Argentina’s hopes of a dramatic comeback were dashed. Grandidier celebrated with the fans, high-fiving supporters who had been cheering relentlessly throughout the match.
“We need to play without pressure, which may have hindered us in the first couple of games, but we’ve set the record straight,” said Grandidier after the final whistle.
Who Else Advanced to the Olympic Men’s Rugby Sevens Semi-Finals?
With their victory, France will face South Africa in the semi-finals on Saturday. South Africa pulled off an upset by defeating New Zealand 14-7.
Ireland’s quest for a medal came to a heart-wrenching end as they lost 19-15 to Fiji, the reigning two-time Olympic gold medallists. Despite leading 15-12 midway through the second half, the Irish were unable to hold off Fiji’s late surge, which earned them a semi-final match against Australia.
The Wallabies secured their spot in the semi-finals with an 18-0 victory over the United States in the final quarter-final of the day.
Credit: BBC Sport
