Unbeaten Blitzboks book semi-final spot in LA
The Springbok Sevens team qualified for the playoffs of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles with victories over France, Great Britain and Argentina in their pool and will face New Zealand in the semi-finals on Sunday.
South Africa won 19-10 against France, edged out the British team 12-7 and scored five tries against Argentina in a 29-21 victory on the first day of action at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles.
Against Argentina, Ronald Brown struck first for a 7-0 scoreline, but two quick tries by the Pumas pushed them into the lead. Ryan Oosthuizen scored to level matters at the break, with Ricardo Duarttee converting both tries.
Three unanswered tries by the Blitzboks gave them an impressive 29-14 lead before a late try by Argentina saved them some blushes. The South Americans will face Spain in the other semi-final.
After an impressive performance against France, South Africa were on the money again against Great Britain, with two tries within the first five minutes putting them into the fast lane towards victory.
First, Brown kicked ahead in the opening minute of play, regathered and scored for a 7-0 lead before Shilton van Wyk chased down his own kick as well to score his 50th HSBC SVNS try.
Leading 12-0, the Blitzboks were in cruise control, but then stepped off the gas, allowing their opponents to claw their way back into the match. Freddie Roddick scored on the buzzer for a converted try, giving the UK side something of a sniff in the second half.
The second half remained scoreless, but went from one side to the other as both sides had their moments, but could not convert. Some good scrambling defence by the Blitzboks proved vital as they held out their opponents to secure their second win of the day.
In the first match, the French started very well and pressured the Blitzboks into mistakes, which led to two unanswered tries - by Varian Pasquet and Simon Désert - to give them a 10-point lead.
The Blitzboks knuckled down and showed great character to fight back after going down 10-0 late in the first half. Selvyn Davids' late try before the break, from a great grubber into space, meant the teams swapped sides with France leading by 10-7.
The second half belonged to the Blitzboks, who held onto possession much better as they worked to find space, with Shilton van Wyk and Zain Davids adding their names to the score sheet.
Van Wyk circled the French defence on the right wing before Zain Davids ran the perfect angle onto a short pass into space by Ricardo Duarttee to give the Blitzboks a nine-point lead. France lost a player to the sin bin and the game finished as the South Africans showed some real grit on defence to deny their opponents a losing bonus-point.
The Blitzboks' semi-final against New Zealand is at 22h46 (SA time) on Sunday evening, shortly after Spain and Argentina face off at at 22h24 for a place in the final.
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