Fiji erased a 12-point deficit to defeat the Blitzboks 26-24 in the Cup semi-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
Selvyn Davids scored a first-half hat-trick as the Blitzboks led 19-5 at the break, but Fiji staged a second-half comeback to advance to the final.
The Blitzboks made a flying start, scoring within the opening 25 seconds. After securing the ball from the kick-off, South Africa went on the attack, winning a penalty and taking a quick tap. Captain Dewald Human read play well, chipped the ball over the top and Davids gathered to score unopposed.
Fiji started to hold onto possession for longer, but stubborn defence by the young Blitzboks frustrated the Islanders. Kalione Nasoko eventually did breach the defence to score, but the try was unconverted.
Fiji piled on the pressure, but were denied by three try-saving tackles from which the Blitzboks scored two breakaway tries.
First, Stedman Gans stepped around several defenders to get them out of the danger zone and then they moved it wide for Davids to score. His third try came in similar fashion, as they broke out from right on their own tryline to score at the other end, only this time it was Muller du Plessis who danced around the Fijian defence before releasing Davids.
There was a huge momentum shift at the start of the second half. Fiji, through Samisoni Viriviri and Amenoni Nasilasila, ripped through the Blitzboks’ defence to score three tries for a 26-19 lead.
There was still time on the clock for South Africa to level the scores. And Du Plessis did score to make it a two-point game with the conversion to come, but unfortunately, Davids’ attempt at goal sailed past the left-hand upright.
From the kick-off, Fiji lost control of possession but in the scramble to get to the ball, South Africa knocked it slightly forward. From the resulting scrum, Fiji hacked it into touch to end the game.
Fiji will face Kenya in the Cup final at 13:00 (SA time), with the Blitzboks playing New Zealand in the third-place playoff at 12:30.
Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter
