New Zealand beat Australia for the Rugby Sevens gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This was the Kiwi team's fourth successive gold in this competition, a dynasty in the building. The final score was 24-17, not a great margin, and one that hid the Houdini-like escape that New Zealand had to perform to come from behind . Australia led 17-7 in the second half and it was only three quick blitzkrieg-like tries that allowed the team in black to respond with the win.Although the path to the final for both teams was aided by the absence of twice-silver medalist Fiji, the final was closely fought, to the bitter end. The Fijians were not allowed to compete in the Games as they were expelled from the Commonwealth over the military coup that brought the current regime into power. It is sad for sport that the hugely popular Fijians were not on the field, where they so much belong. Instead, the Indian public were treated to their first taste of the trans-Tasman rivalry in rugby that rocks the oval-ball world.
South Africa won the bronze medal with a 17-14 victory over England. The three southern hemisphere championship teams finishing in a nice tight trifecta. Once again the Tri-Nations teams dominate over their northern cousins. After the gold medal winning performance, New Zealand coaching wizard Gordon Teitjens hinted broadly that he would stay on to see his charges fight for gold again, this time in the 2016 Olympic Games. Why not, Tietjens is the master tactician in charge of a team undefeated in sevens since 1988.
