Tokyo Olympics 2020: Team GB miss Rugby Sevens medal with defeats to New Zealand and Argentina
After a stirring comeback to earn a semi-final place against Team USA on Tuesday they were unable to go one better and missed out on a medal with successive defeats to runners-up new Zealand and in the bronze medal play-off.
A late try edged the southern hemisphere team ahead with less than two minutes to go when Mendy Ignacio restored the Argentine lead after GB had battled back to level 12-12.
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Hide AdAfter earlier defeat to New Zealand Tony Roque’s side faced Argentina who had been beaten by eventual gold-medalists Fiji.
![Argentina's German Schulz (left) celebrates with team-mate after winning bronze as Great Britain's Dan Bibby looks dejected. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjlkYTk4ZmViLWM5MGMtNGI1OS05NDAwLTMxZDI4NTQyNjIwZjo0NzQ4OWFlNS02MzljLTQ5YzAtOTVlZi1kZDA3YjI4OTJlMzY=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Argentina's German Schulz (left) celebrates with team-mate after winning bronze as Great Britain's Dan Bibby looks dejected. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)](/img/placeholder.png)
Ben Harris had put the Brits ahead with a try, but it proved to be the only time they would lead the match as Argentina responded with a similarly unconverted try but then went one better with a full score to stretch into a 12-5 lead at half-time.
Great Britian survived a second half push from their opponents and rallied to level the scores with three minutes to go when Oliver Lindsay-Hague scored for seven.
But almost immediately Argentina hit back and though Team GB had one final chance to respond, with a penalty and 20 seconds to go, they couldn’t make possession count and tears of joy filled Argentina players’ eyes at full-time.
The final which followed was won by the Argentine’s conquerors Fiji – who took their second consecutive Rugby Sevens gold after winning in Rio 2016. New Zealand were defeated quite convincingly, 27-12 in the end of a powerful display from Welsh coach Gareth Baber’s side.
![Fiji's Asaeli Tuivuaka (right) celebrates with team-mate after victory in the Men's Rugby Seven Gold Medal Final match (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ2NGNmNjVkLTE1ZmMtNDVkYy1iZWE1LTU2OGE0Mjg1NDA4NTo1MjM5YTkwMS1lODZmLTQzZmEtODVlNS0wZDM2OGU1M2FjYzU=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Fiji's Asaeli Tuivuaka (right) celebrates with team-mate after victory in the Men's Rugby Seven Gold Medal Final match (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)](/img/placeholder.png)
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