U.S. Women’s Rugby Finishes Fifth At Rio Olympics, Australia Beat New Zealand For Seventh Rugby Gold Medal

The U.S. women’s rugby team defeated France 19-5 in Rio di Janeiro on Monday to finish fifth in the Olympic standings.

U.S. Women’s Rugby Finishes Fifth At Rio Olympics

France led 5-0 at the half, but the U.S. had all of the momentum after returning to the field. Alev Kelter scored a try for the U.S. merely 15 seconds into the second half. Two minutes later, Jessica Javelet beat several French defenders down the sideline for a try. Joanne Fa’avesi pushed the lead by scoring a try just moments after being substituted into the match.

After losing to Fiji 12-7 in their opening Olympic match, the U.S. women defeated Columbia by 48 points on Saturday. The U.S. then defeated Fiji 12-7 on Monday, a match which Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey attended.

On Sunday, the U.S. squad nearly beat top-seeded Australia, and then lost to New Zealand by just one try.

The U.S. men’s rugby team will open against Argentina on Tuesday at noon. Before that, Australia will face France to open the men’s competition. Great Britain’s men will play Kenya.

Australia’s women ended up winning the rugby competition, upsetting New Zealand 24-17 to win the first-ever Olympic rugby sevens gold medal. Meanwhile, Great Britain lost to Canada 33-10 for Bronze.

Favorites Australia outscored New Zealand, nicknamed the “Black Ferns,” four tries to three, with two of those coming while New Zealand’s Portia Woodman was in the penalty box.

Charlotte Caslick stood out for the Australians in the four-tries-to-three victory, scoring one and having a hand in Ellia Green’s second-half try. Emma Tonegato and Evania Pelite were also on the scoresheet.

Down a player after Woodman was sent to the sin-bin, New Zealand conceded just before halftime when Tonegato scored her seventh try of the tournament.

Australia led 17-5 just after the break. Caslick then nipped over for another converted try to further extend Australia’s lead and Kayla McAlister grabbed her second try

With their win over Great Britain, Canada claimed their first-ever Olympic rugby sevens medal.

“If we’ve inspired any girls to take up rugby, we’ve done our job,” said GB captain Emily Scarratt. 

Britain, who was defeated 25-7 by New Zealand in the last four earlier on Monday, trailed 26-5 at halftime.

Canada, who had lost to Britain in earlier pool game, took full advantage of Scarratt’s yellow card for a deliberate knock on.

Tries from Jasmine Joyce and Danielle Waterman did not help much, as third-seeds Canada dominated in the end.

Rugby was last included at the Olympics in Paris in 1924 when the United States beat hosts France in the final of a men’s 15-aside tournament.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 08: Nana Faavesi of the United States breaks through to score Australia try during the Women’s Placing 7-8 Rugby Sevens match between France and United States of America on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Deodoro Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)