Blitzboks claim bronze, Fiji gold

The Blitzboks beat New Zealand 29-7 in the third-place playoff to clinch the bronze medal at the Hong Kong Sevens. MARIETTE ADAM reports.

The result will be scant consolation for this Blitzboks squad following their agonising two-point loss to Fiji in the Cup semi-finals. But they went out against the Kiwis and produced a convincing performance in their last match.

Stedman Gans scored a brace as the Blitzboks sped out to a 12-0 lead. New Zealand went on the charge, but a brilliant cover tackle denied them in the corner. From the resulting lineout, South Africa carried the ball into the in-goal area, but instead of panicking under pressure, they launched an audacious attack from deep and it succeeded as Dewald Human finished off the team effort at the other end of the field.

Trailing by 17, New Zealand pulled one back through Tone NG Siu, but those were their only points.

South Africa were relentless in the second half. Selvyn Davids’ kick-pass found Zain Davids, who humiliated New Zealand’s cover defender with a vicious hand-off.

The 18-year-old Muller du Plessis then rounded off the scoring. Selvyn Davids kicked the ball in behind the defence into space and Du Plessis – with searing pace and determination – left the Kiwis in his wake as he chased down the ball just before it went dead, scored and then clattered into the advertising boards.

The try saw Du Plessis draw level with Selvyn Davids at the top of the scoring charts with seven tries each for the weekend.

The overall performance of the young Blitzboks drew praise from their more established seniors.

The future of sevens is bright! Proud is an understatement! Well done brothers you made us and South Africa extremely PROUD! #BlitzBokke #Brothers #HK7s @WorldRugby7s pic.twitter.com/CHFtEGjJJ2

— Werner Kok (@wernerkok1) April 8, 2018