Ferraris, Fiji and an Aussie 7s blue-collar rebirth

Australia's Corey Toole scores a try against the United States during their quarter-final clash. (Iain McGregor/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia's roll-up-your-sleeves rugby sevens team are making a habit of achieving firsts.

Beating Fiji in an Olympics is the next one on their bucket list, something 16 other teams have attempted to do since the sport debuted at Rio's 2016 Games.

The Pacific neighbours will meet in Saturday's (Sunday 1200 AEST) semi-final at Stade de France. 

The hosts face South Africa for the other spot in the gold medal game later that day.

Bookies have John Manenti's men as $7 outsiders to topple the two-time defender champions, who own both of Fiji's only two Olympic gold medals and are yet to lose a single game in three campaigns.

There was a national holiday declared after they won in Rio.

"We were over there (in Fiji) for four games and they touched us up in all four of them," Manenti said of their recent unofficial series.

"Nobody else in the world probably thinks we can do it and they literally play for the nation.

"But we have a real belief and haven't played anywhere near where we can play (during the Paris campaign)."

Since Manenti took over after the Tokyo Games the side have won a world series title, broken a 34-year drought to win in Hong Kong and automatically qualified for the Olympics for the first time.

Henry Hutchison
Henry Hutchison brings a wealth of Olympic experience to Australia's rugby sevens squad.

This is also their first Olympic semi-final.

"We've done a few things along the way we've never done before and have a few more to do yet before the week's out," he said.

"We've had a real roll-your-sleeves up mentality. 

"We're not all Ferraris ... we've got a couple there, but also lots of solid workers."

Henry Hutchison is one of the latter, the three-time Olympian debuting in 2015.

"It's been my life and my work for 10 years and it means a lot to me this jersey," he told AAP.

"Fiji are pretty hot, but we're a hard-working team and that's our point of difference so we'll stick to the script and do our best."

Fiji were clearly the best side in the pool stages but needed some fortune to survive a 19-15 quarter-final defeat of Ireland.

“Records are not important to us; this record will not matter if we lose the next game," coach Osea Kolinisau said. 

"We play every game as a final at the Olympics ... we want to keep that legacy alive.”

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store