Silver lining for Fiji but it’s third time unlucky as All Blacks take sevens gold on the Gold Coast
Fan favourites make it to the Commonwealth Games final despite being one of the few to take full-strength side to Hong Kong Sevens
New Zealand’s All Blacks did the men’s and women’s double winning both gold medals at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
It was revenge of sorts for the All Blacks who were thrashed 50-7 by Fiji in the pool stage at Hong Kong Stadium, albeit a different New Zealand side as they were one of the sides that chose to take a second string to concentrate on the Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand also sent their assistant coach rather than their head coach to take charge of the team in Hong Kong.
The decision, which was rightly questioned, paid off on the Gold Coast.
The All Blacks raced to a 14-0 half-time lead and Olympic champions Fiji could not get back into the contest in the second period.
Victory at the Robina Stadium makes it five out of six Sevens golds for their men, only losing to the Springboks in Glasgow four years ago. This was the third time that Fiji had faced New Zealand in the final.
Fiji, who took a full strength team to Hong Kong and made it four in a row, are still searching for their first gold. Despite a third silver medal, making the final shows there is no reason to rue the decision to take the same team to both tournaments.
Earlier in the day New Zealand won the first ever gold in women’s sevens at the Games, both the men and women adding Commonwealth crowns to their Rugby World Cup Sevens titles. Their match with Australia went to extra time but they triumphed with a try after six-and-a-half minutes of the additional period.
England took bronze in both the men’s and women’s sevens.
The men’s sevens gold was the 275th and final medal of this year’s Commonwealth Games. Hosts Australia finished above England to top the medal table.
