Silver for GB in sevens as Fiji run riot

The Great Britain squad show off their silver medals

The British squad, which included Scotland’s Mark Bennett and Mark Robertson, achieved their aim of bringing home an Olympic medal as a tense semi-final win over South Africa guaranteed them at least a silver.

That raised the tantalising hopes of the ultimate prize but the Pacific Islanders, who were the heavy favourites, were in no mood to let their moment slip by as the hit GB hard with an early barrage and stormed to an insurmountable 29-0 half-time lead.

Britain will be disappointed with the eventual 43-7 loss but will be more than satisfied with silver and, in many ways, it was a fitting result as the tiny South Sea island, where sevens rugby is practically a religion, secured its first ever Olympic medal in style.

Bennett took the field again as GB stuck with the settled starting line-up that had seen them register five straight wins in pool and knockout play, with Robertson coming on in the second half.

Britain skipper Tom Mitchell kicked off the first rugby sevens final in Olympic history, but Fiji, who included former Glasgow favourite Leone Nakarawa in their team, were rapidly into their stride as their captain Osea Kolinisau pounced for an opening try after appearing on an unmarked overlap.

And there was no immediate prospect of things improving for Britain. Unable to get their hands on possession, a second try soon followed for the South Sea Islanders as Jerry Tuwai crossed.

Britain’s normally watertight defence leaked holes everywhere, and Fiji, who are coached by Englishman Ben Ryan, almost added a third try in five minutes, but Nakarawa was hauled down just short of the line.

Former Glasgow star Leone Nakarawa celebrates Fiji's fourth try in the final

Britain badly needed a score before the break, yet they were pinned inside their own half and Fiji picked them off with another try, this time from Jesa Veremalua.

All the Fiji players wanted a part to play, and it was pretty much game over when Nakarawa pounced for try number four a minute before half-time.

It was very much damage-limitation for Britain, yet they were breached once more as Valerno Ravouvou sprinted clear, and with two conversions also being kicked, Fiji changed ends 29 points ahead.

Josua Tuisova added another try shortly after half-time, and although Dan Norton claimed a consolation score for Britain, Fiji inevitably had the final word when Viliame Mata crossed the whitewash.

The bronze medal match, meanwhile, was won by South Africa, who demolished Japan - shock opening day conquerors of New Zealand - 54-14.

Earlier, there was more low scoring drama as Britain secured their final place against the fancied Blitzboks. Following the drama of the sudden-death 5-0 win over Argentina in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, this time a score of 7-5 proved enough.

Norton’s second-half try, converted by skipper Mitchell, proved enough after South Africa captain Kyle Brown gave his team an early lead in a tense semi-final clash.

Britain responded strongly after trailing at the interval and Norton’s score, which once again illustrated his blistering pace, was enough to steer Britain onwards to a showpiece encounter on rugby’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1924.