“We remembered what we were capable of doing”… Qualified for the semi-finals, the Blues are definitely launched

After a difficult first day, the Blues outdid themselves to win their quarter-final against Argentina on Thursday evening.

A final mad dash towards the in-goal area by Antoine Dupont at the siren, and the Stade de France went crazy. While the Blues were under pressure at the end of the second half, the Toulousain came to seal their success in the quarter-finals of the Olympic rugby 7s tournament (26-14), Thursday July 25, in a packed and heated Stade de France. With this prestigious victory against the leader of the world ranking, Jérôme Daret’s players showed that they have gained momentum and are definitely getting started.

“The result shows it, we played well, with our strengths. We knew we had to get our hands on the ball, we did, and we finished the first half at 21-0, so we are satisfied.”deciphered Antoine Zeghdar in the mixed zone shortly after the siren. While they only had one victory on the clock, and they had started the day with a defeat against Fiji for their last group match, the Blues produced an excellent copy at nightfall against the Argentinians.

Authors of an imperial first period, they then resisted the return of the Argentinians after the break, despite a few minutes in numerical inferiority, pushed by a furious public. A performance and a reaction appreciated by a smiling and moved Aaron Grandidier: “We really wanted to play a clean match, a complete match, to put our game in place, which we had been lacking a little at the start of the tournament. I’m so proud of the team, because, when you’re in a tough spot like that, it’s hard to get through it, and I think we really responded tonight.”

Enough to erase the first difficult day experienced by Jérôme Daret’s men the day before, first held by the United States then unconvincing winners over Uruguay. “I think we just realised that we had already had big performances without starting well, for example in Madrid, […] and in the end we win”said Aaron Grandidier. “We remembered that. We remembered what we were capable of doing,” he supported, also evoking a “slab” found.

Having qualified for the last four, the Blues are now looking ahead to the medal matches, after a day of rest. “We’re here for the gold”assured Antoine Zeghdar, followed by Stephen Parez: “The memory we want to keep is the gold medal, and not stop halfway.” On this road, they first have a date with the South Africans in the first semi-final on Saturday.