South Africa miss out on bronze after going down to Japan again in rugby at Youth Olympics

Junya Matsumoto of Japan runs with the ball as Muzi Manyike of South Africa goes in for the tackle at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Photo: Thomas Lovelock/OIS/IOC via AP

Junya Matsumoto of Japan runs with the ball as Muzi Manyike of South Africa goes in for the tackle at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Photo: Thomas Lovelock/OIS/IOC via AP

Published Oct 15, 2018

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It seems like Japan have become the new nemesis rugby team for South Africa.

The SA side had a chance to exact revenge on their first-round defeat, but it was not to be at the Youth Olympics as they lost the bronze-medal sevens match 28-5 to Japan in Buenos Aires on Monday.

The SA side had also gone down 14-12 to Japan in their opening match on Saturday.

The Japanese were quick out of the blocks, with Kentaro Fujii dotting down after less than two-and-a-half minutes.

Just over a minute later, Taisei Konishi grabbed a second, and suddenly Japan were 14-0 up after four minutes.

The South Africans managed to hold out until halftime without any further addition to the scoreboard, but it was Konishi who struck soon after the break once more to take the game away from the opposition.

Konishi got his hat trick with less than two minutes, and having converted all four tries himself, he put Japan 28-0 up to all but secure the bronze medal.

There was time for Ofentse Maubane to get a consolation five-pointer, but it was too late to have any effect on the result.

Meanwhile, hosts Argentina clinched the gold medal by beating France 24-14 in the final.

It's a Bronze 🥉 for Japan as they beat South Africa 28-5 at the @youtholympics @BuenosAires2018 #BuenosAires2018 pic.twitter.com/xHq9XAAQ7c

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) October 15, 2018

@ashfakmohamed

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