Last gasp Dupont try sends France into Canada 7s semis

English Woman's Journal - Last gasp Dupont try sends France into Canada 7s semis

SPORTS 25.02.2024

Last gasp Dupont try sends France into Canada 7s semis / Photo: JEFF VINNICK - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Antoine Dupont scored a try deep into injury time to send France into the semi-finals of the Canada Sevens on Saturday with a 12-5 quarter-final victory over Ireland.

Change text size:

Dupont, France's regular 15-a-side captain and scrum-half who has switched to sevens in order to play in this year's Olympics, settled a tense battle with the final play of the game at Vancouver's BC Place stadium.

The former world player of the year, who came on as a substitute, burst down the blindside from a scrum to dot down in the corner for an opportunistic score.

It completed a gutsy comeback for France, who at one stage were reduced to five men after seeing both Joseph Jefferson Lee and Rayan Rebbadj pick up yellow cards in quick succession.

France, who face a semi-final meeting against New Zealand on Sunday, had earlier dismantled Australia 31-5 in their final Pool B game, with Dupont among France's five try-scorers.

A win over New Zealand could leave France facing a repeat of last year's final, which they lost to Argentina.

Argentina advanced to the last four on Saturday with a hard-fought 14-12 win over Samoa in their quarter-final.

On the other side of the draw, the United States routed Great Britain 27-0 to book their semi-final berth.

New Zealand, meanwhile, held off a ferocious late fightback from Fiji to win 21-19.

The Canada Sevens is the fourth stop on World Rugby's eight-tournament SVNS Series following tournaments in Dubai, Cape Town and Perth.

Ch.Reilly--EWJ

FA Cup Second-Round Draw Confirmed for Non-League and Midlands Clubs

The FA Cup second-round draw has been finalized, setting up crucial ties for non-league teams aiming to reach the third round proper. Several clubs from the Midlands, including Burton Albion and Kidderminster Harriers, have secured their next opponents following recent victories over lower-league opposition.

Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium

The new Penrith Stadium is expected to be ready in time for the opening round of the 2027 NRL season, but it’s still likely the Panthers is expected to be on the road for their early matches. There is no delay to the build of the new $309 million venue but there’s a lack of appetite for risk around weather delays through the summer.

Tayyab Arif hits 57 on Pakistan Test debut against Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Tayyab Arif smashed an aggressive half-century on debut and provided a new-look Pakistan lineup a confident start to the first cricket test against Sri Lanka on Monday. The 20-year-old Tayyab struck nine boundaries and a six in his 57-run knock as Pakistan reached 137-2 at lunch on a greenish wicket that lured Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis to bowl first after winning the toss.

English Woman's Journal - Last gasp Dupont try sends France into Canada 7s semis