Olympic day 2: Down to final four

Day 2 was Great Britain's day. While the other contenders stumbled they got better and better.

Pool round 3

Now things started to get tense. On a far breezier afternoon than day one, an understandably nervy Spain – with the future funding at stake – faced Kenya, winning 19-10.

It was a win that almost put Spain into the last eight – but only if Brazil or Japan did not win by too high a score. An early try for Brazil raised their hopes, but Japan fought back and, with the aid of a yellow card, took the lead early in the second half. Once back to full strength Brazil fought back to win Day the game – but could only win by 26-10.

So all four sports in the final eight were decided – but the excitement was far from over.

France had already worried New Zealand, despite the 26-5 scoreline, and the “form” teams from day one continued to be brought down to earth. First Canada were not only beaten by Great Britain, but well beaten 22-0 – England head-to-head form in the World Series a great guide to the game. Great Britain clearly had a plan for frustrating the Canadians, and it worked perfectly.

Then the round finished with a dramatic game between USA and Australia. Again World Series history should have been a guide as USA have won the majority of the team’s previous meetings, but based on day one performance am Australian win seemed a given. But after holding the Pearls to just 5-0 in the first half, the USA had a great second half. Australia has lost Green early on, and Caslick was now rested at the break. Australia took advantage with the pace of Javalet too much for the Pearls with two tries.

Australians never give up, though, and a last-play Tonegato try levelled the scores. But it was a great game to end the pool phase.

Results

Pool A

Fiji 36-0 ColombiaAustralia 12-12 United States

Pool B

Spain 19-10 KenyaNew Zealand 26-7 France

Pool C

Brazil 26-10 JapanCanada 0-22 Great Britain

Bowl semi-finals

Very much to form, and seeding. Brazil – with an enthusiastic crowd behind them – easily beat Colombia, as they have in every previous meeting. Japan then followed them into the Bowl final/World Series playoff with a straightforward 24-0 win over Kenya – revenge for their loss in Clermont.

Quarter-finals

The last eight began with a largely untroubled win over Spain, who defended well by rarely threatened, though if a marginal decision to disallow a try from a perfect kick ahead by Patricia Garcia had gone their way the game would have been much closer.

Game two was far closer, France taking an early looking the better team for much of the game. But a missed opportunity right at the end of the first half, when France seemed certain to score but went the wrong way, proved costly. Canada hung and scored two tries in the final couple of minutes to win 15-5

Great Britain then won a bruiser against Fiji. A first minute score from Brown set them on the way, but Fiji recover well to draw level from Naiqato. But two scores just before the break, the seconf from a Fijian knock-on in front of their own post, gave Britain a lead that was never seriously threatened in the second half.

Finally, the United States dominated most of their game with New Zealand – but it was the Ferns, with Woodman seizing the Eagles one real error, who got the only score of the game.

Results

Bowl semi-finals

Brazil 24-0 ColombiaKenya 0-24 Japan

Gold medal quarter-finals

Australia 24-0 SpainCanada 15-5 FranceGreat Britain 26-7 FijiNew Zealand 5-0 United States