Blitzboks to face Fiji in quarters
5 Feb 2010
The Springbok Sevens disappointed with a 19-7 defeat against New Zealand in the final match of day one in the Wellington tournament.
Although both sides had already confirmed Cup quarterfinal qualification, South Africa and New Zealand faced each other in a crucial Pool A game. The winners would move on to an easier fixture against Australia, while the losers would meet an in form Fijian outfit.
Considering the Boks lost against Fiji in the last two Cup quarterfinals, it was important for Paul Treu’s charges to top Pool A.
However – not for the first time – the Blitzboks failed to perform when it mattered most as they went down to hosts New Zealand as they conceded two late tries.
South Africa had the upper hand for most of the first stanza, as they kept the Kiwis restricted in their half. However, poor defence from stalwart Mzwandile Stick allowed Sherwin Stowers to slip past for the opening try.
On the half-time mark, a late attack from the Blitzboks saw Ryno Benjamin through and Stick added the conversion to level the scores.
After the break, South Africa stole the early momentum again, but lacked the composure in attack to take the lead.
This cost the World Series champions as New Zealand went ahead two minutes from time through Zar Lawrence.
The result was confirmed when Chris Baker crossed the chalk in the final minute.
Earlier in the day, the Blitzboks impressed with two convincing wins against Wales and Niue.
In their second fixture of the day, Cecil Afrika’s hat-trick helped the Boks down Wales 38-5 to confirm a place in the Cup quarterfinals.
Afrika crossed the whitewash twice and Marius Schoeman scored a try as the Boks surged into a 19-0 half-time lead.
Afrika then completed his hat-trick after the break, while Ryno Benjamin and Hoffman Maritz crossed the line to seal the win. Wales only managed one consolation try through Ifan Evans.
In the Boks’ first match, Western Province speedster Steven Hunt grabbed a brace as they secured a 38-10 against Niue.
South Africa dominated the first half as they scored five tries to take a 31-0 lead at half-time.
Niue, however, produced a better overall performance in the second stanza as the Boks only managed to score one try.
Springboks Sevens results, Day 1:
South Africa 38 Niue 10
South Africa 38 Wales 5
New Zealand 19 South Africa 7
For more results and fixtures click here
By Gareth Duncan
485 Comments
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5 Feb 2010, 14:19 pm
@stew: Stew for Semi, Said it yesterday.
Saders, Bulls, Tahs, Hurricanes, Stormers or Brumbies.
Hope my team can surprise though.
5 Feb 2010, 14:20 pm
@stew:
You have just ruined ratels weekend !!
5 Feb 2010, 14:20 pm
@stew:
Bulls
Crusaders
Blues
Sharks
With Brumbies pushing hard.
5 Feb 2010, 14:21 pm
@Puma: 200 – Well think the top for will come from that lot.
5 Feb 2010, 14:21 pm
@Puma: for = four
5 Feb 2010, 14:23 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): What about Hurricanes? They have so many ABs in that side. Think they will make the semi, maybe before Blues. Well just a thought.
Hope our Sharks make it mate. Just have my doubts this year. They they could we do have a good pack, just our centres and FH positions are a worry.
5 Feb 2010, 14:27 pm
@Puma: Ya and the Tahs looking good to. I just think you need 30 good players to do well in the S14 and I think the Sharks have that. Maybe not the best 15 this year, but we have amazing depth with 30 good players.
5 Feb 2010, 14:29 pm
@NZINCHINA: I heard a rumour NZ will be abandoning the Maori haka and doing the Samoan one instead, can you confirm this?
5 Feb 2010, 14:29 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): Time for you sharkies to get a new coach , defianately got the depth
5 Feb 2010, 14:30 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 206 – Ratel, This year we do have depth, the very thing that cost us last year with all our injury problems.
5 Feb 2010, 14:33 pm
@justrugby: g10 not around today?
5 Feb 2010, 14:35 pm
@Puma: Exactly. Got solid lock and loosie depth this season. Also 3 solid 10s. None of which are the finished product, but hopefully someone will put up their hand big time.
5 Feb 2010, 14:36 pm
@stew: @196
Blues ?
no locks, no ball.
no loosies, no turnovers.
midtable at best.
@WP Till I Die: @198
only for the lucky few unions who decided they alone were good enough.
Only since 1996 have ALL the best players been involved. You know it.
@Big Hit:
Lord Barry, I see Cipriani has ‘committed himself to Melbourne’.
Which means we were both……erm……wrong.
Cmon, swallow your pride.
5 Feb 2010, 14:37 pm
@Big Hit: He is chasing John Smit down the beach !
5 Feb 2010, 14:38 pm
@Black Panther: My predictions for the first weekend not the semis !!
My predictions for semis
Saders
Bulls
Brumbies
Stormers
5 Feb 2010, 14:39 pm
@Big Hit:
Nice comeback.
5 Feb 2010, 14:39 pm
@Big Hit: @207
Not sure about the Samoan Haka, it doesnt seem to get any press or amounts of pathetic criticism that the AB one does. Nor the Fijian one. Nor the Tongan one. Nor the Cook Islands…
Of course, its always a Maori that needs to lead a Haka in NZ. Which one of Engls do you think will now lead theirs ?
5 Feb 2010, 14:41 pm
Interesting, that SA tours for Aus/NZ teams always have 2 fixed packages: either Bulls and Stormers or Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions.
No one ever gets Bulls and Sharks in one go in regular season.
5 Feb 2010, 14:42 pm
@Black Panther: I’ve seen Richie leading it. Has he Maori ancestry?
5 Feb 2010, 14:43 pm
@Black Panther: Ya Ali was a big loss to them. But their front row and backline are awesome.
5 Feb 2010, 14:45 pm
So when am i getting my headline?
BJ TO STORMERS!!
5 Feb 2010, 14:45 pm
@Nils:
Only when a Maori is not in the match-22, otherwise youve seen Piri (waste of space) Weepu leading it in recent times.
I dont think Richie has an ounce of Maori, altho check out Paul Tito. The Maoris have mutated !!!
5 Feb 2010, 14:46 pm
@grant10: g10 what do you think of the new reffing interpretation?
5 Feb 2010, 14:46 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
You gotta be kidding me !!!!! 3 solid 10′s !!!!
That confirms it….pull the blinkers off , you will se everything is not black and white !!!!
I can never take you seriously again !!! About the clown statement, well need I say more !!
5 Feb 2010, 14:46 pm
HEARD pdv ON MONDAY NIGHT TALKING ABOUT ‘when BJ is back’…..
Thank the holy angels of mercy!
5 Feb 2010, 14:48 pm
@Big Hit:
Why would a All Black team do a Samoan siva. It would be like an Irishman doing a Morris dance.
5 Feb 2010, 14:49 pm
@grant10: When you go down on your team again.
5 Feb 2010, 14:49 pm
@Big Hit: Big trouble….loads of penalties….a dark cloud hanhing over the future of the fetcher….
Again rugby shoots itself in the foot.
But 1 positive is the primary phase will be back in vogue….so Smit will have to go back to 2….or the retirement village.
Not sure as yet BH…all i can say is the defending teams were toothless in the 3 games i saw so far.
5 Feb 2010, 14:50 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): @220!
5 Feb 2010, 14:50 pm
@grant10: Here’s a headline for you:
“John Smit to consult with national coaches and share the secret to his success at TH”
5 Feb 2010, 14:50 pm
@Big Hit:
You still at it?
5 Feb 2010, 14:50 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 211 – Yip we do have depth with the locks and loosies this year. With FH really not sure about the players we have. Have not seen Meyer play just heard here how he played in the warm-ups. From what I heard I think we should start with Meyer until Ruan is over that op. Think Ruan should then play FH, unless Meyer does really well there. Have to wait and see.
5 Feb 2010, 14:50 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 226
sis man!
5 Feb 2010, 14:51 pm
@FireStraeuli: LOL
That must be 1 from Heat Magazine!
5 Feb 2010, 14:52 pm
@justrugby:”Also 3 solid 10s. None of which are the finished product, but hopefully someone will put up their hand big time.”
Is that not a fair comment? Ruan, Meyer and Monty? And oh yes and I’m forgetting the ‘best’ of the lot Dollie! Clown.
5 Feb 2010, 14:52 pm
@Nils:
From what I gather you don’t have to be Maori to lead a haka.
You wear the jersey, you lead haka.
5 Feb 2010, 14:53 pm
@grant10: interesting, the 6N is supposed to be adopting the new interpretation tomorrow, sounds like it’s a recipe for disaster. So annoying.
With regards to the scrum, it seems they’re replacing it with penalties and free-kicks. No re-sets anymore just a sanction.
5 Feb 2010, 14:53 pm
is the Dollie deal done Sharks ladies> SAnyone know?
Good player…better than Dumond.
5 Feb 2010, 14:54 pm
You know, I can’t take all this brawling on a Friday afternoon.
Why don’t you all just step away from keyboards and go get a beer.
5 Feb 2010, 14:55 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 234
top being like n aggressive little PMS granny m man?
Not our fault your saint smit cant scrum….cmon now…start of a long season, beautiful day, all is well ,Recession lifting…
Smile my good lady, smile…
5 Feb 2010, 14:55 pm
stop.
Bloody laptop
5 Feb 2010, 14:56 pm
Cape Argus Headline:
BJ to Stormers – Grant10 goes beyond and above for his team once again.
Natal Mercury Headline:
Botha to return home – Bok Tighthead returns home to the Sharks.
5 Feb 2010, 14:56 pm
@Big Hit:
Without getting too technical … IT’S GONNA BE ****!
5 Feb 2010, 14:57 pm
@Big Hit: 236
Ja….the 3 games at Newlands was a nightmare….stop start and really the team defending was penalised mercilessly at the breakdown. Feel for Brussow, MC Caw and Pocock.
No wonder G smith said thats it!!
5 Feb 2010, 14:57 pm
@Dawn: you watched any of the pre-season games Dawn?
5 Feb 2010, 14:58 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 241 – He is a Durban boy through and through. Think he will come back home to Durbs. Has a beautiful home there still.
5 Feb 2010, 14:58 pm
@Dawn: Mithells at 13 hoo tomorrow Dawn….can you let WPTID know?
5 Feb 2010, 14:58 pm
@Big Hit: Will that apply to the club games from now on as well or only 6N for now?
5 Feb 2010, 14:59 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 241
Why will BJ go to sharks….?
You got Smit and Jannie Du Plessis?
5 Feb 2010, 15:00 pm
@Puma: Of course. What will Jannie do though? Do you think he’s seriously contemplating a move to LH or do you think he’ll leave when BJ returns?
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