If the opening salvo of the Rugby Sevens was anything to go by, Paris 2024 promises to be a brilliantly raucous affair.
While there have been pre-Games reports suggesting that some Parisians have decamped to country escapes ahead of the city's third Olympics - by all accounts that is an annual habit and the excuse of thumbing le nez at an Olympics on the doorstep wouldn’t be needed to seek out a hideaway outside l’Ile de France - those that stayed behind to take in the sporting feast certainly made themselves heard. Aided and abetted in the first few hours, one must add, by an assortment of DJs blasting out what sounded to the sceptical ear like Europop… when in Rome, or Paris to be precise.
The stands at the Stade de France were packed for Wednesday’s opening pool stage fixtures and there were plenty of retro Irish rugby jerseys on show along the concourses and along a couple of pockets in the tribune the tricolour made its presence felt.
The decibels peppered with cries of 'Allez Les Bleus’ would reach fever pitch on both occasions that a France side containing temporary 15s exile Antoine Dupont took to the field.
They did plenty of shouting even if their team didn’t consistently give them as much to shout about on the field, a 12-12 draw with USA deflating the balloon somewhat before they overcame Uruguay 19-12 in the evening match.
Reigning Olympic champions Fiji also earned more than a few ripples of applause for their vibrant and imaginative attack.
Argentina vs Kenya also engendered a level of noise, although not of the welcoming side for the Pumas with unmistakable and persistent boos heard whenever they were in possession and enthusiastic cheers for Kenya - perhaps the controversy sparked by Chelsea and Argentina footballer Enzo Fernandez after their recent Copa America played no small part.
It was in that cacophonous late afternoon atmosphere though that Ireland got their campaign off to an impressive start against South Africa, who had finished fifth in Tokyo in a tournament where Ireland had failed to progress.
The Rugby Sevens squad were the first of the 133-strong contingent of Team Ireland athletes to get their Olympics underway and did so diligently.
In the first half, Jordan Conroy showed Ireland’s intent when he knocked on agonisingly close to the line.
It was only a temporary reprieve for the South Africa as Conroy broke through for Ireland’s opening try.
Significantly, their opponents were barely laying a glove on the Irish side who hogged possession and the insurance score would come in the second half via Terry Kennedy, the top try-scorer during the 2023–24 SVNS series and a scorer against the same opponents at the last Olympics.
Insurance indeed because South Africa would eventually get in for a try themselves but with little time remaining and a botched restart eating up the clock, Ireland were assured of all three points and a good marker for a side tipped at having an outside shout at a medal.
The speed dating nature of the Sevens of course meant that Ireland would be back to build on their earlier win as they faced Japan at 9pm local time as the heat eased.
Japan had been dismantled by Tokyo silver medalists New Zealand right after Ireland’s opening win which would only up the expectations to make it two from two before facing the All Blacks Sevens on Thursday.
By this stage of the evening, the stands weren’t quite as full which threw sharper relief on the other Irish flags that hadn’t been as visible earlier and the faint but unmistakable sounds of "C’mon Irelands" for good measure.
The Irish support didn’t have to wait long to get off their feet as that man again, Kennedy, raced clear with a breakaway try, slowing to a trot before touching down.
A converted try too significantly given the extras were not exploited in the earlier game.
He was crucial at the other end too, playing his part with three minute to go in the half to slow down a Japanese breakaway.
He was electric just before half time after a period of Japanese pressure, cutting a line in the outside channel and racing for the try line before generously lofting a pass over to support runner Chay Mullins to get in on the act and leave the scores at 14-0 at the break.
Ireland were efficiently ruthless when the second half resumed after captain Harry McNulty intercepted an errant pass and raced clear before getting on his haunches and waiting it out before touching down, a few boos coming from the northern stand behind that scoring zone for that pause, not that he or any other Irish player was all too bothered by that.
And it showed with the interchanges between Jack Kelly, McNulty and Niall Comerford for the fourth try and when Mullins got his second and also heard a few boos waft his way for replicating his captain’s pause.
Ireland were rampant at this stage, forcing turnover after turnover.
Like South Africa though, Japan did get in late for a consolation try of their own and one of only two blots on the defensive copybook for Ireland.
However, this time with the clock down to zero, Zac Ward broke through down the left to leave a yawning 40-5 gap.
No more Europop this time to serenade the players after a job well done. ‘Zombie’ and Dolores O’Riordan’s inimitable voice echoing ‘in your head’ brought a bit of home to the French capital.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
