NEW ZEALAND SUFFERED a shock 14-12 defeat to Japan in their opening Pool C match of the men’s rugby sevens competition at Rio 2016, with Sonny Bill Williams picking up an injury.
The All Black Sevens went into the tournament as one of the favourites for gold, but their campaign hit an immediate setback with a first ever defeat to Japan in the seven-man form of the game.
After Teruya Goto dotted down the opening score, Scott Curry brought the All Blacks level before Williams – part of New Zealand’s 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning side – limped off with a partial rupture to his Achilles — an injury which ends his tournament.
Akira Ioane put the All Blacks ahead but Kameli Soejima’s late try levelled the score before Katsuyuki Sakai’s conversion clinched victory.
New Zealand will take on Kenya later today before facing Great Britain on Monday.
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