Sevens captain Nick Malouf opens up on red card in heartbreaking Olympics loss to South Africa

Sevens captain Nick Malouf got it horribly wrong when he was sent-off against South Africa as Australia bid for a historic Olympics medal fell heartbreakingly short.

Nick Malouf is shown a red card by referee Jeremy Rozier during the bronze medal match between Team South Africa and Australia at Stade de France. Picture: Getty Images

Australian rugby sevens captain Nick Malouf has conceded he got it horribly wrong after his send off in the bronze medal playoff against South Africa at Stade de France.

It capped a heartbreaking fourth-placed finish for the team in Paris and reignited calls for additional funding for the program.

The men weren’t expected to win a medal, but they went perilously close to creating their own slice of history, their best-ever finish prompting coach John Manenti to renew calls for more investment in the men and greater support from the elite level of rugby.

Remarkably, they almost pulled off a miracle. Malouf had no complaints after he was given his marching orders early in the second half for a high tackle on South African forward Tiaan Pretorius.

Nick Malouf had no complaints after he was red carded in the bronze medal match. Picture: Getty Images

Australia was trailing by five points and moments later they were behind by 12 points when South African Zain Davids crossed for his second try.

They had a mountain to climb, but they almost reached the peak. Corey Toole and Henry Paterson scored in quick succession to level the scores in the final minute, leaving Dietrich Roache with the chance to put Australia in front with the siren beckoning.

His kick from the sideline sailed narrowly wide and South Africa iced the game.

Malouf cut a disconsolate figure afterwards, but he had no issue with his sending off, conceding he had missed the mark on Pretorius.

“Nah, it was probably high,” Malouf said.

“It is what it is. It is tough. I like to play physical rugby and I got it wrong. That is what happens. The way the team kept believing when that happened and fought really hard to get us back with a chance, I was really proud.

“It was always going to be tough when we went down to six. I just thought full credit to the guys for still believing. To get yourself back in, equal score, probably the numbers tell in the end not having that extra body out there.”

Nick Malouf cut a disconsolate figure after Australia’s loss. Picture: Getty Images

It was a bittersweet end to the tournament for Australia, having gone so close to a medal for the first time in their history.

They began the day on the front foot after scoring first against Fiji in their semi-final, but their hopes of a gold medal rapidly went by the wayside as the two-time champions went on the rampage.

The men’s team don’t receive the same level of funding as the women, who won gold in Rio and are regarded as one of the favourites to repeat the feat in Paris.

France won the gold medal, beating Fiji 28-7 in a boilover for the host country.

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FROM SHY FAN BOY TO PARIS OLYMPICS HEARTBREAK

The Australian men’s rugby sevens team are known for being tight-knit, courageous and brave but there were few braver than speedster Dietrich Roache in Australia’s heartbreaking loss in the bronze medal decider at the Paris Olympics.

The 23-year-old winger from Sydney’s western suburbs played the match with 20 stitches in his leg after sustaining a deep slash to the fatty tissue in his leg during Australia’s quarter-final win over the US.

But it didn't stop the two-time Olympian running on for his band of brothers in the bronze playoff against South Africa which they lost 26-19 but still left them with Australia’s best ever result in the men’s competition.

“It wasn’t for lack of effort,’’ Roache said of the loss which came after Australia had fought back from 19-7 down to level the score just minutes from time.

Australia's Dietrich Roache (L) and Australia's Mark Nawaqanitawase (R) after their quarter-final win.

“It just felt so close. We felt like we were just one step away but we just couldn’t get it down today. We left everything out there.’’

“Now it's the women’s turn. We are very excited for them. We see how hard they work and we know they can get the job done and win gold.’’

Roach was inspired to try his hand at Rugby Sevens after watching the women in action at the Sydney Sevens back in 2018.

“It gave me a passion and a desire to make something out of myself,’’ Roach said of his sudden addiction to the sport.

“I just fell in love with the sport, the environment, everything.’’

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Roache, who grew up favouring gaming over footy games and only took up the sport seriously when 18, is the second youngest member of the team playing in Paris and just a year older than 22-year-old Ben Dowling.

Coach John Menenti is hopeful the bulk of the side which finished fourth at the Olympics will play on to form the basis of the LA Olympic team