Fiji smash Britain in Olympic rugby final

Fiji gave a sobering rugby tutorial to Britain, the inventors of the sport, in the Rio Olympics final, drubbing their rivals 43-7 to win the gold.

The team from Oceania made seven tries with seven different players to give Fiji their first Olympic medal in history during the year in which rugby returned to the Olympics after a 92-year absence, reports Efe.

In the first period on Thursday, Fiji made five tries, each of them a true demonstration of power and skill that astonished the rugby world.

The Fijian tornado was under way right from the start with Osea Klinisau scoring less than a minute into the match, followed by Jerry Tuwai, Jasa Varemalua, Leone Nakarawa and Vatemo Ravouvou, for a 30-0 lead by halftime.

Then it was Josua Tuisova's turn to increase the tally to 36-0 at the beginning of the second period and only then was Britain able to rouse itself and stage its first attack, scoring with a try and a conversion, but it was all for nought as Fiji had time for one further try and a conversion for the 43-7 result at the Deodoro Olympic Park.

The crushing win was but a continuation of the Fijians' overwhelming dominance during this edition of the Games, as they triumphed over the United States 24-19 before decimating Japan 20-5 in the semi-finals.

--IANS

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