Star playmaker Lewis Holland ruled out of remaining games as Aussie campaign derails

AUSTRALIA’S chances of adding a men’s gold medal to the women’s took a major blow overnight with star playmaker Lewis Holland ruled out of the Olympics with a hamstring tear.

Australia's Lewis Holland has been ruled out of the remainder of the Olympics through injury

AUSTRALIA’S chances of adding a men’s gold medal to the women’s sevens title took a major blow overnight with star playmaker Lewis Holland ruled out of the Olympics with a hamstring tear.

Holland’s Olympics were brought to a premature end on a tough first day of competition for the Aussies.

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Ed Jenkins’ side crashed to defeat in their opening game against France and though they rallied to beat Spain in the second game, the win came at a huge price with Holland leaving the field with a busted hammy.

Australia's Lewis Holland has been ruled out of the remainder of the Olympics through injury

Medical staff later confirmed he had a small tear and would not be able to play again.

Shadow player Tom Kingston has been called into the team for the second day, which starts with Australia playing South Africa. After a day of upsets and close games in other pools, they must win to be assured of a place in the quarter-finals.

Speaking prior to Holland being rubbed out, Friend said losing the skilful player would be a blow.

“If he is out that’s a real shame and there is another world class player possibly exiting the tournament early,” Friend said.

“It would be (a blow). He is a class act in the ten position but if he is not right he is not right. New Zealand have just lost Sonny Bill, other teams are losing players, you have to work through that.”

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A combination of nerves and over-eagerness in the wake of the Aussie girl’s win saw Australia give away victory to the French in the opening game, said Friend.

“Certainly in the first game we saw some nervous patches there, maybe it is the enormity of the environment we are in, maybe it is a little bit of what the girls did last night and we’re trying a bit hard. We love what they did, they’re on our team,” Friend said.

“We didn’t respect the ball and possession is everything in this game. Second game it was all about the win and I was really happy with the way we got the win, but still we need to be much better than that.

“The key is to get yourself in the quarter-finals. You are going to play a tough team and then you have three games to win for a gold medal.”

Jenkins said the first day had not been “ideal” but said his team had the game to beat the Bliztboks, as they’ve proven on the world series this year.

But even a tight win may not be a guarantee, with for-and-against critical in the final seedings and Australia currently in deficit points.

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“We had a long time to think about this tournament and prepared as well as possible. Not to win against France was frustrating and wasn’t part of the plan,” he said.

“Against Spain it was silly mistakes that let them back into the game. We have to cut that out if we are going to be standing on that final day.”

Friend said: “I know we have got the ability to play a game that has the ability to beat any of these teams here. But it is a matter of doing it.”

Originally published as Star playmaker Lewis Holland ruled out of remaining games as Aussie campaign derails