Miracle turnaround sees Aussie men’s Rugby Sevens team qualify for Paris Olympics
Fresh from signing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Australian rugby has had another massive win after qualifying for the Paris Olympics after a miracle finish in London.
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The Australian men’s Rugby Sevens team have snatched the last automatic qualifying place for next year’s Paris Olympics after a heart-stopping end to the annual World Series that the team captain labelled as “a miracle”
Needing to stay ahead of Samoa on the season points table to join New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and France as automatic qualifiers, the Aussies looked like they had blown it after a disastrous last-gasp loss in the final round of the global series in London.
Relegated to the seventh-place playoff after conceding a try after the final hooter in a devastating 22-19 loss to France following a quarter-final defeat to Fiji, Australia suddenly needed other results to go their way.
Australian rugby is on a bit of a roll at the moment and the team got their first get out jail free card when Samoa lost 10-7 to Argentina in the semi-finals then their second when the Aussies ended their run of unlucky losses by beating a pumped up British side 34-5.
The incredible sequence of results was enough for Australia to finish the 11-round series in fifth spot – earning the last automatic place at Paris next year with 133 points – just one ahead of Samoa who now have to go through the Oceania regional qualifiers.
“Today has been one of the biggest roller-coasters ever,” he jubilant Australian captain Nick Malouf said.
“We started the day with two losses, and this afternoon we got lucky and qualified by some miracle.
“There‘s been so much hard work behind the scenes that has gone into this moment.
“We‘ve never qualified automatically; it’s a really big deal for us and we’re over the moon.
“We‘re so thankful to the fans who follow and support us. We’re always thinking of you and we’re so proud to have locked that Olympic spot down.”
Only 12 countries will make the final cut for the men’s and women’s sevens rugby tournaments at Paris – which is already one of the hottest ticket items at the Games.
Olympic gold medallists at Rio in 2016, the Australian women had already qualified for Paris after finishing second in their world series.
With the Aussie men sealing their lucky escape at Twickenham with an opening try against the Brits from Maurice Longbottom then a hat-trick from Nathan Lawson, both Australian teams are looking ahead to the Olympics as genuine medal contenders.
“It was a rollercoaster of a weekend, but we got what we came for,” head coach John Manenti.
“We became the first Australian Men‘s team to qualify directly into the Olympics.
“We feel that with extended preparation, we can be in the medals in Paris.
“Nathan Lawson was outstanding all weekend and a standout in our final match.
“We‘re all looking forward to a well-earned rest!”
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