Rugby

Ireland to face Fiji in Rugby Sevens quarter final

Narrow defeat to All Blacks means back-to-back gold medalists in last eight

Ireland’s Zac Ward during the rugby sevens match against South Africa in Paris
Ireland’s Zac Ward during the rugby sevens match against South Africa in Paris (David Davies/PA)

Ireland were denied by a second-half fightback as New Zealand emerged 14-12 winners in their rugby sevens Pool A decider at the Paris Olympics.

First-half tries from Zac Ward and Jordan Conroy, plus a Mark Roche conversion, gave Ireland a shock 10-0 interval lead at the Stade de France.

But the All Blacks replied within 30 seconds of the restart through Leroy Carter and Akuila Rokolisoa’s conversion cut the deficit further.

Ireland fought valiantly to stay ahead as New Zealand applied concerted second-half pressure.

But Ngarohi McGarvey-Black’s try levelled matters in the final moments and Andrew Knewstubb’s conversion proved decisive.

Ireland will now play Pool C winners Fiji in the last eight, kicking off at 10pm local time while New Zealand have already been dumped out by South Africa 14-7 in the first quarter-final.

France, beaten 19-12 by Fiji in their pool match, clash with Argentina, with Australia against the United States completing the quarter-final draw.