Bibby’s extra-time try puts GB into semi-finals
Playmaker’s late effort is only score of the match South Africa favourites in today’s showdown
Nil-nil at full time? This was rugby sevens, but not as we know it. Great Britain’s quarter-final against Argentina delivered 20 minutes of Hitchcock-style suspense, finally defused when playmaker Dan Bibby swallow-dived over the goalline to send them into the last four.
In the 15-man format, low-scoring matches are usually described as purists-only material. But the seven-man game has a suddendeath feel about it which kept the Deodoro Stadium richly entertained. Given the lack of a covering full-back, you are only ever one or two missed tackles away from a try. What was remarkable about yesterday’s match was that both defences stayed so watertight.
It looked for all the world as though a penalty kick would seal it. Towards the end of the 14-minute normal timespan, British forward James Davies was penalised for a high tackle within reach of the posts, earning a yellow card into the bargain. Argentina captain Gaston Revol stepped up for the dropkick, but sent it scudding right.
Early in the five-minute extratime period – in which the first score wins – Great Britain returned the favour when Tom Mitchell had a kick from almost exactly the same place but hit the right-hand upright. The slippery ball tumbled its way back into a melee of players, whereupon Argentina knocked it on. And it was from the ensuing scrum that Great Britain launched Bibby down the right. Long-haired and swivelhipped, he rounded his defender with a terrific turn of pace. After 20 minutes of lung-busting effort, his 20-yard dash underlined how hard this team work on their fitness.
“I was bloody awful all game, so I made up for it with that,” said the self-deprecating Bibby afterwards. “When he had a shot [at goal] I thought, ‘This could be it, that’s our Olympic dream over’. But some sort of luck was on our side and we ended up getting another shot at it.
“.I was just in the right place at the right time. All I was thinking was, ‘Don’t drop it, don’t drop it’.”
Davies — brother of rugby legend Jonathan — was distraught as he left the field to serve his twominute suspension. “When I got a yellow card I was thinking, ‘What have I done?’ ” he said, with the broadest of grins. “I’m just sitting on the sideline there, giving up my first prayer. That’s the first time I’ve ever prayed, before that kick. But the guys showed some serious character there. I am just buzzing. My knees are weak.”
Earlier, Great Britain had seen off New Zealand by a 21-19 margin in their final pool match to reach the knockout stages unbeaten. They have been hugely combative and full of desire but most pundits would make them second-favourites for today’s semi-final against a thoroughbred South African side.
If they do not reach the final, the most likely outcome would be a bronze-medal match against a physical Japanese side.
Japan would be no pushovers, however, as they have already beaten both New Zealand in the pool stages and France in last night’s quarter-final.
The pick of the bunch, thus far, have been the Fiji, who are on track to claim the first Olympic medal in their nation’s history. It might well be a gold.