There was a point at which British Sevens fans should have got worried.
They were impressive in their semi-final win over South Africa and had every right to come into the gold medal match against Fiji with a degree of confidence.
Okay, Fiji are the off-loading, hard-running, side-stepping kings of broken field rugby and, therefore, built for the new Olympic sport of Rugby Sevens. Having already earned their first medal in any sport, the Pacific Islanders just had to determine the colour.
But Britain had been good in the tournament and had to fancy their chances. Then this happened.
https://twitter.com/CliveWoodward/status/763807859654139904
The World Cup winning coach was on commentary duty in Rio with the BBC and his hyperbolic, over-cooked description of the gold medal match did not auger well.
Sure enough Fiji beat the living snot out of Team GB, running in five tries in the first half alone as they ran out convincing 43-7 winners to claim the first gold medal in their country’s history.
Everyone was delighted for the Fijians, who have won the last two World Sevens Series and are quite clearly the best exponents of the sport on the planet.
Rugby players past, present, Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish, Australian and Kiwi were united in their joy for the Fijians.
Different game these lads play! #Rio2016
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) August 11, 2016
These Fijians could be playing against 15 players and still win 👀💪🏾 #skills #Rio2016
— Simon Zebo (@SimonZebo) August 11, 2016
Fiji just too good. Offloading for fun. #RugbySevens #Rio2016
— Stuart W Hogg (@StuartWHOGG_) August 11, 2016
Simply Unstoppable #Fiji #Rio2016 – no idea how the bloody hell you could stop/ beat/ live with these guys… Brilliant
— Will Greenwood (@WillGreenwood) August 11, 2016
Congrats #Fiji on their first Olympic medal 🏅 & a gold. Well done @TeamGB amazing effort all tournament & did GB proud!! #Rugby7s #Olympics
— Mike Brown (@mikebrown_15) August 11, 2016
Brilliant 1st ever medal for Fiji: gold for a special 7s side.
— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) August 11, 2016
I can imagine the whole of Fiji singing together with them 👌👌
— Charles Piutau (@CPiutau) August 11, 2016
Congrats #Fiji! Olympic #gold #Rio2016
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) August 11, 2016
Fiji are a different class at 7's. They deserve the gold. Great effort by the GB boys. 🇬🇧
— George North (@George_North) August 11, 2016
Even Sir Clive managed to congratulate the men who had spoiled the biggest night in the history of rugby ever.
https://twitter.com/CliveWoodward/status/763874984922058752
However there was no word on whether these lads had their smiles turned upside down by the defeat.
#Rio2016xPYTV Las joyitas de los #JuegosOlimpicos Aficionados #Lego en el encuentro de #Rugby entre #GBR – #RSA pic.twitter.com/qmMp16SeTj
— Paraguay TV (@ParaguayTVHD) August 11, 2016
But, predictably, amid the euphoric Fijian fans there were a few Irish lads enjoying themselves. Aren’t there always?
Irish celebrating Fiji scoring! @SportsJOEdotie @RTEsport @sportsdes pic.twitter.com/QTS4gRcl3r
— Daragh McGrath (@DaraghMcGrath) August 11, 2016
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