NZ reign in George
12 Dec 2009
New Zealand beat Fiji 21-12 in the cup final at the George Sevens on Saturday while the Boks faltered.
New Zealand controlled most of the first half and went into a 7-0 lead at the break.
The Fijians did well to get back into the game in the second half, but the Kiwis’ three tries to Fiji’s two sealed the win and secured the main prize.
New Zealand now have a healthy lead at the top of the World Series log with 48 points after consecutive cup wins, with Fiji second on 36 points.
Meanwhile, the Boks’ unimpressive World Series title defence continues, as they find themselves eighth on the World Series log on 16 points.
They had a bad opening tournament in Dubai as they finished second in the plate section and suffered the same feat in George.
After recording a 10-7 win against Samoa in a scrappy semi-final, Paul Treu’s men then produced a tired effort against England in the final, losing 21-7.
England had the clear upper hand in the first half as they easily outran a poor Bok defence and scored two converted tries for 14-0 lead at half-time.
The Boks continued to disappoint in the second half as they found themselves 21-0 behind when England scored another seven-pointer against the run of play.
Shaun Venter grabbed a consolation for the home side as he scored a last-minute touch down.
Earlier on day two, the Blitzboks suffered another cup quarterfinal exit as they lost 21-17 against Fiji.
Their inability to secure possesion at the breakdowns and lack of compsure in attack cost the home side as Fiji scored most of their tries thanks to errors from the Boks.
The home side dominated possession in the early exchanges and did well to work themselves into Fiji’s 22, but were unlucky when William Ryder scored against the run of play after an intercept break.
Marius Schoeman brought the home side back into the game with a good run into space, but Fiji extended their lead with another converted try and went into the break 14-5 ahead.
Early in the second stanza, it got worse for the Boks when Fiji broke through down the touchline to cross the chalk after stealing the ball from the set-phase in their own half.
A late brace from MJ Mentz created an intense finish as they Boks trailed by four points with a minute remaining.
South Africa, however, struggled to keep possession and conceded a penalty at a breakdown on the full time mark. Fiji cleared the ball into touch for a hard-fought victory.
The next tournament is the Wellington Sevens in New Zealand on 5 and 6 February.
George Sevens day two final results:
Shield final: Scotland 28 France 19
Bowl final: Wales 14 Russia 5
Plate final: South Africa 7 England 21
Cup semi-final 1: New Zealand 17 Kenya 14
Cup semi-final 2: Fiji 19 Argentina 14
Cup final: New Zealand 21 Fiji 12
For more fixtures and results click here
By Gareth Duncan
415 Comments
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12 Dec 2009, 11:23 am
go blitzbokke!
12 Dec 2009, 12:27 pm
Russia vs Zim first up
12 Dec 2009, 14:13 pm
Kenya just toying with Australia already 4 tries down. 24-0 with more to come.
This Kenya team is a damn fine seven’s outfit they could even take this tournament. They run good lines, have acceleration off the mark, have some good powerful runners and couple speedsters and are quick to back each other up running good support lines and pass well. Plus their commitment and stamina is undaunting. This Kenya team can very well become the team to beat in the very near future if not already.
12 Dec 2009, 14:16 pm
Ok Aus got in 2 late tries at the death after Kenya had put them to the sword from first half. Final score 24-12
Kenya and Fiji should be teams to beat in this format going ahead
12 Dec 2009, 14:19 pm
good news for kenyan rugby,certainly making huge strides in sevens rugby.
12 Dec 2009, 14:30 pm
now the Pom’s giving Nz a go scoring twice early on, then Ab’s getting one back before the SS transmission failed.
12 Dec 2009, 14:34 pm
looks like Nz just scoring again in 2nd half 10-10
AB’s just scored converted try 17-10 Nz with 2 min to go. And another in the corner 22-10
Nz through to semi’s with Kenya
12 Dec 2009, 15:05 pm
damn, new zealand seem to be travelling with a horde of supporters!!!
12 Dec 2009, 15:10 pm
@Transformation: from the cape town area?
12 Dec 2009, 15:17 pm
Fiji tough to beat. We gave them 1 soft try and should have held onto that last ball 5 mt out instead of the grubber by Stick. Now we cough it up in possession again and the quick Fiji flyer leaves us for dead.
Afraid we going out in the quarters again. Should have taken care of Kenya yesterday then we would have met Aus instead of Fiji now.
12 Dec 2009, 15:20 pm
Try Sa 3 min to go trailing 21-12 needing 2 more. Probably a bridge too far now.
12 Dec 2009, 15:23 pm
one more to go can still pull this out the fire but Fiji is over at the other end Tmo decision. All over now baby blue.
12 Dec 2009, 15:27 pm
what’s happening skoppie?
12 Dec 2009, 15:32 pm
Well done Fiji, but **** the refereeing needs to improve, players cant be the only ones who are professional
12 Dec 2009, 15:48 pm
@skopskiet: Kenya no easybeats any more.
12 Dec 2009, 15:53 pm
@XhosaKid: Gosh the complaining about the refs from the SA supporters has now spread to the seven man game, another conspiricy
12 Dec 2009, 15:53 pm
The team that wins the second semi-final seem to have very little time to recover for the final (little bit more than an hour). NZ`s to lose. This competition is starting to have the look of so many years before – NZ dominating. Blitzbokkies was a flash in the pan last year – this year poegaai. Can`t tackle and being physically dominated by the bigger teams.
12 Dec 2009, 15:54 pm
we need more sterk boer players. .. our defense is k@k
12 Dec 2009, 16:09 pm
@west: I’m South African mate and when we get beaten by the better teams we tend to blame either Luke Watson, The Coach or the Referee. It is so sad! Hate the whinging of South Africans. Can remember on this site SA supporters telling the AB supporters to stop whinging about the ref when they were knocked outta the World Cup. Very sad.
Well Done Fiji – now go on and win the tournament – no make that go Kenya
12 Dec 2009, 16:13 pm
It would be interesting to see how countries will go about selecting their teams for the olympics. I have the feeling that some countries will select their test players in the 15 man code. If so, and we keep on picking these laaities that can`t even make the vodacom cup or CC it will be interesting. I reckon we will lose to the likes of Italy, etc. The 7`s series is a bit of a joke anyway. Let`s face it, the big rugby countries use all the leftovers (those that can`t make the provinvial competitions). Still, a nice spectacle to watch but a bit of a cinderella event nonetheless.
12 Dec 2009, 16:15 pm
@Springbokvel: Its a total different game this mate. You will see most 15 players don’t make it in this game. Just think SA thought they just have to turn up and they will win, similar to our 15′s who thought they could walk the games in NH.
12 Dec 2009, 16:18 pm
@Springbokvel: Sevens is a very different game to 15s. It is not something you pick up over night, and a team with Habana, de Villiers, Spies, Kankowski etc. would very likely not be the best team SA can put out.
It is different tactics, different style of play at the breakdown, different skills.
12 Dec 2009, 16:22 pm
it doesn’t matter the senior players would just kick & chase the whole game & we’d beat everyone!
12 Dec 2009, 16:27 pm
Rubbish. Better players will be much better with a few weeks training. In one of the very first world 7`s champs some 15 years ago, SA send a full strength squad consisting of test players like Andre Venter, etc. These players hardly played any sevens rugby but narrowly lost to Fiji (the undisputed masters of sevens then) in the final. Besides, how do you think these laaities are going to stop the likes of Spies, etc. They won`t get any ball to play with in the first place.
12 Dec 2009, 16:37 pm
@Springbokvel: if sa’s full strength team lost to fiji (who don’t gave a full strength anything) why are you so c0cksure that spies & them would fair better? Maybe an exhibition game should be played between the current seven’s springboks against whoever wants to play in the olympics.
12 Dec 2009, 16:37 pm
A team consisting of Spies, Smith, Brussouw, Schalk, Du Preez, De Villiers, Habana (just to mention a few) will beat Treu and company by plenty.
12 Dec 2009, 16:44 pm
@Springbokvel:
Schalk??
Brussouw??
du Preez?
Smith???
You are only showing your ignorance for the whole wide world to see.
12 Dec 2009, 16:47 pm
@Springbokvel: #20
I disagree.
I think seven coaches will probably start building their Olympic teams from around 2014. That will give them two years to build a team that can be competitive at the Olympics.
They may pick some test players for the Olympics but it will only be a few players who can really make a difference and also to bring some experience of playing on the big stage (read WC experience) into the squad.
12 Dec 2009, 16:51 pm
I think they should do this: make the Boks play the Blitzboks once a year. It would be great to watch – kind of like the lifeguards playing the Boks in a game of touch at the beach. Of course the Boks would win because they would have 15 players on the field (just kidding, seven-a-side of course).
12 Dec 2009, 16:57 pm
You only need 2 flashy players (at most) for 7`s. Habana will be my flashy player. A player with excellent vision like Du Preez will be an absolute menace in 7`s. Brussouw will take all the balls on the ground, Schalk and Smith will run and tackle all day, Spies will sprint away from wingers (he will be my second semi-flashy player) and De Villiers will cause all kind of **** in midfield.
12 Dec 2009, 16:58 pm
@Springbokvel: if the best south africa had 15yrs ago lost to fiji (who are hardly world beaters in the 15man game) why are you so c*cksure that these other guys you’re punting will fare any better against the current fijian team?
12 Dec 2009, 17:05 pm
‘why are you so c*cksure that these other guys you’re punting will fare any better against the current fijian team?”
This is not the best 7`s Bok side we are putting out right now. That`s for sure. I mean the likes of Delport, Benjamin, etc. You must be joking.
12 Dec 2009, 17:08 pm
put the little Fatman from the east in the house and racism is bound to show its ugly face.
Scary thing is this KKK doos actually thinks he is incognito…..
What a sorry little wanker.
12 Dec 2009, 17:10 pm
@kaksioek:
#28
I think the springboks/wp only once (out of 20 something times) managed to beat the Clifton lifeguards during the annual game of touch on the beach.
The loose sand and hot sun are great levelers.
It is all horses for courses.
12 Dec 2009, 17:10 pm
At least most at RT at least got the strength of there convictions…and stay away.
Not like the little dog who steals nics and trys and cause dissent…..absolute 1 st class wanker ….unforgiveable piece of rubbish….
12 Dec 2009, 17:12 pm
My thoughts on resting key players to ensure that they peak at the 2011 WC.
I feel that our 1st 15 are definitly capable of winning the WC, but we need a stronger 2nd 15. The 2nd 15 needs to support the 1st 15, especially during the year end tours, and in this case, the WC.
We play Wales, Fiji, Samoa, and Namibia in our group. The 1st 15 should really only have to play Wales, maybe Fiji too. We should be confident in our 2nd 15 to take care of Samoa, Namibia, and even Fiji.
To ensure this, the 2nd 15 needs to gel as a unit, and that will only happen if they play together, under the same coaching staff, and in the same way as the 1st 15. That is why I suggest we leave our 1st 15 at home for the end of year tour. These 2nd stringers need to step up and take responsibility, because after the WC they need to be able to make the step up and fill some pretty big shoes.
I think we all know who our 1st 15 is:
F.Steyn
JP. Pieterson
J.Fourie
J.de Villiers
B.Habana
M.Steyn
F.du Preez
P.Spies
J.Smith
H.Brussouw
V.Matfield
B.Botha
BJ.Botha
J.Smit(C)
B.Maretariwa
The 2nd team could look like this:
Z.Kirchner
L.Mapoe
A.Jacobs
W.Olivier
J.Nokwe
R.Pienaar
F.Hougaard
D.Potgieter(C)
J.Deysel
S.Burger
A.Bekker
D.Rossouw
WP.Nel
B.du Plessis
W.du Preez
12 Dec 2009, 17:12 pm
stormers team were tgraining on Clifton 4 th during the week….my neighbour watched them…reckons the okes are super fit!
12 Dec 2009, 17:13 pm
@Springbokvel: #31
They were the best in the world last year. So I heard.
Benjamin is one of the best in the world currently and has been for the past few years since he decided to concentrate on sevens.
He still is a doos however.
12 Dec 2009, 17:22 pm
@grant10: So who died and made you God?
Jeez ouboet, who do you think you are? Does this site belong to you?
12 Dec 2009, 17:24 pm
We wont know who our best 7′s team is unless we have a Provincial competion for 7′s where full strength teams play each other. All 15 code players must be available to play (although they will need to prove that they are better). The competition can take place over a weekend during the CC, so players selected will miss one game. Obviously the Springbok 15 will have first option. 7′s are vital for the development of skills, and players like Mapoe, de Jongh, Hougaard, and many more can benefit hugely from this.
12 Dec 2009, 17:24 pm
@Springbokvel: at no point did i say the current sevens springboks are the best. you made an example of south africa 15yrs ago and how they came unstuck against fiji (now i’m not sure how many of the fijians who triumphed all those years ago can be classified as the best in 15-man rugby)
My question still stands, why are you so c*cksure that these other guys you’re punting won’t lose to the current fijian team who are by and large sevens specialists?
12 Dec 2009, 17:26 pm
@Johan Fourie: Good idea.
12 Dec 2009, 17:31 pm
E! Entertainment reporter: Matt, you’ve played physical roles before, how does this role compare to your previous ones.
Matt Damon: it’s up there with the most challenging, you must understand Francois Pienaar is like the Michael Jordan of South Africa.
wtf? Michael Jordan > Francois Pienaar!
12 Dec 2009, 17:34 pm
I heard that Tiger might retire from the game after an ultimatum from his wife. She said: “It’s golf or me, choose” Was on Canadian TV last night.
12 Dec 2009, 17:37 pm
Had a look at the WC draw. If all goes according to plan, the Boks will play NZ in the semi’s, and Australia will play France. Should France beat NZ in the group stages however, we will play France and Aus against NZ. Going to be tough either way!
12 Dec 2009, 17:41 pm
@Johan Fourie: well one of the commentators during the cavs & blazers game mentioned that espn was going to broadcast an announcement by tiger woods that he will be taking an indefinite break for golf. I haven’t seen it yet…
12 Dec 2009, 17:43 pm
@Transformation: Wonder what the sponsors reaction will be?
12 Dec 2009, 17:52 pm
@Transformation: They should have played around with photography a bit. Looks weird to see that “Madiba” is taller than “Francois”! LOL!!!
12 Dec 2009, 17:54 pm
@Johan Fourie: #43
She must be crazy then.
I’ll probably choose a bottle of brandy over her any time of the day.
12 Dec 2009, 17:57 pm
@nama1: No ways! She is tooooooo cute! Plus, Tiger is scared brother, she sorted him out real good! They even have video games where she is chasing him with a club, smashing him and his car!
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