The Ireland Men sealed an epic Rugby World Cup Sevens run in some style, winning the Bronze final 19-14 against Australia, the recently-crowned World Series champions, in Cape Town.
In Pics: Bronze Medal Reward For Ireland Men In Cape Town
Topping Eager To Build On World Cup Achievement
Fittingly, it was one of the 'Originals', Harry McNulty, who barged over for a 13th-minute try that split the teams in an absorbing duel that saw Australia lead by seven points on two occasions.
Digging deep and making sure to avoid a second successive defeat, Sean Cribbin scored late in the first half and Terry Kennedy levelled from his own kick through, making it 14-all with three minutes remaining.
It was Kennedy's instinctive kick pass that kept the move going for McNulty's match winner, Mark Roche using it to cleverly jink into the 22 and feed McNulty for a muscular finish past Dietrich Roache.
Giving his reaction afterwards, an elated Kennedy said: "Oh my God, it is incredible! We never fail to surprise, every time our backs are against the wall, we stand up.
"It was a tough loss earlier today against New Zealand in the semis, so to come out there and put on that performance was unbelievable.
"Some boys have been here (in the set-up) the whole time, for some this is their first year. It was a huge effort from our forwards, they carried us so well throughout the tournament and thankfully we got a couple of scores at the end."
The victory has to rank as Irish Sevens Rugby's best ever achievement, and while their predecessors at the inaugural Sevens World Cup in 1993 also finished third, there was no Bronze final to win back then.
Their level of professionalism and consistency in performance has delivered some excellent results for James Topping's side in 2022, and their return of four wins-out-of-five in Cape Town completes an incredible season on the road.
Ninth place finishers at the last World Cup in San Francisco and having learned a lot from their Olympic Games experience last year, they are now regularly contesting the business end of global tournaments.
This weekend's scalps of England, the 2018 silver medallists, hosts South Africa and Australia, fresh from their first ever World Series title, prove just what they are capable of.
Wearing all white, Topping's charges lost possession twice at successive lineouts - the Australians competing hard in that area - and a scrappy first half was set to be scoreless until Nathan Lawson struck late following a neat switch move.
His converted effort was swiftly followed by Ireland's opening seven-pointer. With possession retained from a lineout, Chay Mullins drove up into the 22 before Cribbin brilliantly stepped inside Lawson and handed off Stuart Dunbar to score.
The conversion from captain Billy Dardis made it seven points apiece at the break, but a cracking solo try from Corey Toole, who burst clear of three defenders, moved John Manenti's men back in front.
Andrew Smith led Ireland's response, breaking downfield and then winning a turnover penalty. Kennedy turned the latter into a peach of a try, showing his class again by stabbing a kick through and outpacing Maurice Longbottom to get the grounding.
Roche made it all-square with the conversion, setting up a grandstand finish with three minutes to go. Ireland also regained possession from the scrum half's steepling restart, which Bryan Mollen tapped back.
They played through a penalty advantage, Mollen sidestepping in midfield, Smith's swift pass almost going to ground but Kennedy's deft football skills suddenly opened up the space on the left wing.
Roche cut inside the retreating Toole and passed to his left where a charging McNulty took contact from Roache and expertly touched down with his right hand, avoiding the touchline to give the TMO a straightforward decision.
The conversion was missed on the near side by Roche, but there was no denying Ireland another famous victory in the Western Cape, with an unfortunate knock-on by Jimmy Turner ending Australia's hopes.
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1569024534057046018
Ireland's World Cup bronze medal comes on the back of a best ever overall World Series finish of fifth this year, the highpoint of that campaign being their silver medal success in Toulouse. They were also European Trophy champions in the summer.
The individual accolades bestowed on playmaker Kennedy are further evidence of the star quality in this Irish side. The Dubliner was the leading try scorer in the World Series (50 tries in 52 games) and made the HSBC Dream Team.
The Ireland Men's and Women's Sevens teams wore their brand new Canterbury kit for the World Cup in Cape Town. Click here to buy the new jerseys online from Intersport Elverys.
Their level of professionalism and consistency in performance has delivered some excellent results for James Topping's side in 2022, and their return of four wins-out-of-five in Cape Town completes an incredible season on the road.
Ninth place finishers at the last World Cup in San Francisco and having learned a lot from their Olympic Games experience last year, they are now regularly contesting the business end of global tournaments.
This weekend's scalps of England, the 2018 silver medallists, hosts South Africa and Australia, fresh from their first ever World Series title, prove just what they are capable of.
Wearing all white, Topping's charges lost possession twice at successive lineouts - the Australians competing hard in that area - and a scrappy first half was set to be scoreless until Nathan Lawson struck late following a neat switch move.
His converted effort was swiftly followed by Ireland's opening seven-pointer. With possession retained from a lineout, Chay Mullins drove up into the 22 before Cribbin brilliantly stepped inside Lawson and handed off Stuart Dunbar to score.
The conversion from captain Billy Dardis made it seven points apiece at the break, but a cracking solo try from Corey Toole, who burst clear of three defenders, moved John Manenti's men back in front.
Andrew Smith led Ireland's response, breaking downfield and then winning a turnover penalty. Kennedy turned the latter into a peach of a try, showing his class again by stabbing a kick through and outpacing Maurice Longbottom to get the grounding.
Roche made it all-square with the conversion, setting up a grandstand finish with three minutes to go. Ireland also regained possession from the scrum half's steepling restart, which Bryan Mollen tapped back.
They played through a penalty advantage, Mollen sidestepping in midfield, Smith's swift pass almost going to ground but Kennedy's deft football skills suddenly opened up the space on the left wing.
Roche cut inside the retreating Toole and passed to his left where a charging McNulty took contact from Roache and expertly touched down with his right hand, avoiding the touchline to give the TMO a straightforward decision.
The conversion was missed on the near side by Roche, but there was no denying Ireland another famous victory in the Western Cape, with an unfortunate knock-on by Jimmy Turner ending Australia's hopes.
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1569024534057046018
Ireland's World Cup bronze medal comes on the back of a best ever overall World Series finish of fifth this year, the highpoint of that campaign being their silver medal success in Toulouse. They were also European Trophy champions in the summer.
The individual accolades bestowed on playmaker Kennedy are further evidence of the star quality in this Irish side. The Dubliner was the leading try scorer in the World Series (50 tries in 52 games) and made the HSBC Dream Team.
The Ireland Men's and Women's Sevens teams wore their brand new Canterbury kit for the World Cup in Cape Town. Click here to buy the new jerseys online from Intersport Elverys.