Cape Town, South Africa – The South African Blitzboks secured their place in the semi-finals of the Cape Town Sevens tournament on , despite a late defeat to Fiji in their final pool match. The team’s performance throughout the day demonstrated both resilience and vulnerability as they navigate a challenging path towards the title.
The Blitzboks finished second in Pool A after a afternoon encounter with Fiji ended in a 20-14 loss. Earlier victories against Spain (33-14) and Argentina (19-12) had already guaranteed their progression to the knockout stages, but the defeat to Fiji denied them top spot in the group. Fiji and New Zealand will contest the other semi-final.
The match against Fiji proved to be a tale of two halves. The Blitzboks started strongly, with tries from Zain Davids and Sebastiaan Jobb quickly establishing a 14-0 lead. Davids’s opening try came after a break from Ricardo Duarttee created space, while Jobb capitalized on a numerical advantage following a Fijian yellow card. However, the momentum shifted dramatically before halftime, with Fiji scoring to reduce the deficit.
The second half saw Fiji continue their resurgence, scoring immediately after the restart and then again to take a 15-14 lead. A yellow card for Davids further compounded South Africa’s woes, leaving them with six players on the field. Fiji capitalized on this advantage, adding another try to extend their lead and ultimately secure the victory. A subsequent yellow card for Duarttee for a high tackle sealed the Blitzboks’ fate.
Earlier in the day, the Blitzboks had secured their semi-final berth with a hard-fought 19-12 win over Argentina. The victory was not without its challenges, with the match remaining tight until the final play. A yellow card to Argentina proved pivotal, allowing South Africa to score through Christie Grobbelaar from a subsequent scrum penalty.
Argentina responded with a try before halftime, but the Blitzboks quickly regained the lead through Zain Davids, who scored his 50th HSBC SVNS try. Ricardo Duarttee played a key role in the build-up, opening up the Argentine defence before providing the assist. Donavan Don then extended South Africa’s lead with a 70-meter sprint, seemingly putting the game beyond Argentina’s reach at 19-7.
However, Argentina refused to concede defeat, launching a late counter-attack that resulted in a try. Despite their efforts, they were unable to convert the try and ultimately fell short of securing an equaliser. The win highlighted the Blitzboks’ ability to perform under pressure, but also exposed vulnerabilities in their defence.
The opening match against Spain saw the Blitzboks demonstrate their attacking prowess, ultimately winning 33-14. Shilton van Wyk and David Brits scored early tries to give South Africa a 12-0 lead. However, Spain fought back with two tries from Juan Ramos, briefly taking the lead before halftime.
The Blitzboks responded emphatically in the second half, with Zain Davids, Zander Reynders, and Luan Giliomee all crossing the try line. Davids’s try was particularly significant, while Reynders’s score showcased his individual brilliance. Giliomee’s try marked his first in Blitzboks colours, adding a memorable moment to the victory.
The tournament so far has highlighted the Blitzboks’ attacking capabilities, with players like Davids, Duarttee, and Don consistently making impactful contributions. However, their disciplinary record and defensive lapses, particularly evident in the match against Fiji, remain areas of concern. The team will need to address these issues if they are to progress further in the tournament and contend for the title.
Scorers:
South Africa 33 (12), Spain 14 (7)
SA – Tries: Shilton van Wyk, David Brits, Zain Davids, Zander Reynders, Luan Giliomee. Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (2), Donavan Don (2).
Spain – Tries: Juan Ramos (2). Conversions: Jeremy Trevithick (2).
South Africa 19 (14), Argentina 12 (7)
SA – Tries: Christie Grobbelaar, Zain Davids, Donavan Don. Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee, Tristan Leyds.
Argentina – Tries: Marcos Moneta, Santino Zangara. Conversion: Pedro De Haro.
South Africa 14 (14), Fiji 20 (5)
SA – Tries: Zain Davids, Sebastiaan Jobb. Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (2).
Fiji – Tries: Nacani Boginisoko, Viwa Naduvalo (2), Iowane Teba.
