Blitzboks fall to Scots

Blitzboks fall to Scots

30 May 2010

South Africa’s miserable World Series ended with a 19-14 defeat against Scotland in the Edinburgh Sevens Plate semi-final.

Maybe ‘Bluntboks’ would be the more suitable nickname. South Africa’s poor campaign at Murrayfield was an accurate summary of their World Series title defence – too many unforced errors and a fragile defensive system that hampered their momentum, leaving the defending champions without a single tournament triumph. The returns of experienced campaigners in London, such as Fabian Juries and the injured Renfred Dazel and Neil Powell, strengthen the squad somewhat but their comebacks were a little too late as they failed to gel with two tournaments remaining.

This was evident against the hosts Scotland, who upset the South Africans in the second tier of the last sevens tournament in Ediburgh. The Blitzboks led 14-0 in the sixth minute thanks to a Chris Dry brace, but from then on the Scots took over.

Mark Robertson opened Scotland’s score late in the first half, while two second-half tries from Mike Adamson and Ben Cairns sealed the win.

Earlier on day two in the Cup quarterfinal, Samoa beat South Africa 19-0. In the quarterfinal, the Blitzboks were unable to trouble Samoa on attack because of poor handling while Henno Mentz had a clear break but his pass was intercepted. Their Pacific Island counterparts scored soft tries by taking advantage of weak tackle attempts. Samoa surged into a 14-0 lead in the first half as Reupena Levasa and Alafoti Fa’osiliva crossed the chalk.

With a comfortable lead, Samoa took their foot off the pedal and camped in the South Africans’ half. The Blitzboks’ had their opportunities, but mistakes at crucial times cost them. Samoa managed to add one more try through Uale Mai.

In other results, Australia beat New Zealand 24-19 and Samoa edged England 15-12 in the Cup semi-finals. With final qualification and New Zealand losing against the Aussies, Samoa sealed the 2010 World Series. They carried on with their from and went on to triumph 41-14 against Australia.

Blitzboks fixtures and results:
Cup quarterfinal: South Africa 0 Samoa 19
Plate semi-final: South Africa 14 Scotland 19

For all fixtures and results click here


39 Comments

  • 1.Panzer Chief: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 12:10 pm

    South Sea Brothers to triumph over DrakenBoks.

  • 2.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 12:45 pm

    Looks like only England/Scotland stand in the way of the incoming new World Series champions. Great surge, as it looked just NZ/Fiji two horse race in the middle of the comp, now Samoa are firmly in control.

  • 3.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 12:59 pm

    Now New Zealand have to win the tournament (Argentina, Australia/Fiji and final opponents, if they aren’t Samoa), while Samoa just need to beat either England or Scotland to be the champions.

  • 4.ROAR my beautiful Lions ... ROAR!: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 13:20 pm

    ‘Samoa beat South Africa 19-0′

    yip the pygmies took one up the nought from those islanders.

  • 5.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 15:13 pm

    Come on Samoa!!!!!!

  • 6.TheBoksAreBack: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 16:37 pm

    Losing to Somoa is one thing, but they just lost to Scotland FFS!!!

    Unreal how they have gone from Champs to Chimps.

    One piece of advise to coach – as it seems he is totally blind/oblivious too it:

    TACKLE

    Stop the opponent.
    Immediately.
    It’s not touch rugby FFS!
    In all their games, the opponents are brushing through SA defenders – often taking as many as 4 SA defenders to stop them – after 30 meters. That’s half the team committed to running in and stopping ONE attacker!!!

    They don’t seem to want to do proper tackles … at first I thought they may be afraid of injury, but after watching a few games it seems each SA player assumes HE is going to get the breakthrough to score any minute, so does not want to be on the ground but rather ready to sprint off … allowing opponents to simply spin through them.

  • 7.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 16:41 pm

    @TheBoksAreBack(bringbacktheboks)-6: Maybe it’s not just the case or SA playing worse but Scots playing much better than usual. Remember, they did beat Fiji, too, just 3rd (I guess) time in umpteen times of trying.

  • 8.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 16:43 pm

    Argentina snatched it against the Fiji :)

  • 9.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 16:54 pm

    Samoa-England 7-0. Samoa are 7 minutes away from making history.

  • 10.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:00 pm

    7-7, huge conversion. 2:30 left.

  • 11.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:00 pm

    Samoa scores and probably seal it!

  • 12.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:02 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-11: Samoa going to be new 7s series champs if they make the final?

  • 13.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:02 pm

    what a try

  • 14.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:03 pm

    England have saved New Zealand for a while :) unbelieveable.

  • 15.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:04 pm

    Geez, this is unbelieveable finish. 8)

  • 16.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:04 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-14: Aussies will hopefully beat them regardless

  • 17.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:04 pm

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-12: Yes, all Samoa need is win a semi. New zealand have to win the tournament and hope Samoa fail to reach the final.

  • 18.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:05 pm

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-16: I will be happy in any case, great for Samoa, if NZ fail. After all, NZ have won it plenty of times, for Samoa it will be history.

  • 19.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:07 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-18: good for everyone if NZ fail, it’s no good if the bad guys win

  • 20.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:07 pm

    What a game, what a drama :)

  • 21.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:07 pm

    7 v 6

  • 22.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:10 pm

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-19: I disagree, I’d say exactly the same about England. ;)

    The only reason I am cheering for them today is because of permutations.

  • 23.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:11 pm

    Gollings should’ve kicked that more central

  • 24.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:11 pm

    Come on Samoa!

  • 25.grant10: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:12 pm

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-19: BH

    Did you watch CJ yesterday….give me info my man!

  • 26.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:15 pm

    @TheBoksAreBack(bringbacktheboks)-6: Cheeky!!!

    Scotland have added a few international players to their squad. Hence the good performance over the weekend.

  • 27.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:19 pm

    What a game, congratulations, Samoa, what an achievement! :) Good work, England, too, great game!

  • 28.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:19 pm

    congrats samoa, we played dumb rugby at the end.

  • 29.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:22 pm

    Well done Samoa, excellent win

  • 30.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:23 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-25: I watched Tigers/Sarries, for some reason they scheduled the ML final at the same time. Apparently CJ played at tighthead for 48 mins before being subbed.

  • 31.grant10: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:26 pm

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-30: okay

    thanks….ja , i saw he started….

  • 32.Nils: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 17:39 pm

    Great win Australia, clearly NZ looked a little bit disinterested after the title slipped away already but nothig to take away from the Aussies – what a nation with meagre rugby union player resources and still among the best in both versions. Very well done, Australia!

  • 33.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 18:13 pm

    Now can someone explain what happened to SA this year? Poor performances.

  • 34.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 19:31 pm

    Sa has been so embarassing this year but I must say the writing was on the wall during the Sevens World Cup last year. They were poor and cant tackle. You cant win a game if you cant defend.
    Who knows what happened to them but I can say I dont even bother watching sevens anymore.
    Maybe Aplon should go back and give them some lessons in tackling.
    If they dont make any attempts at improving they may as well just deny the invitation to the next Olympics too. Disgrace.

  • 35.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 19:33 pm

    Ok gents time to go and enjoy the lovely weather, and long weekend.

    Summer’s here. Yeah baby.

    See you through the window.

  • 36.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    30 May 2010, 23:03 pm

    The Blitzboobs lost to Scotland? That’s as bad as losing to Tunisia.

  • 37.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2010, 00:20 am

    injuries,loss of key players to S14,young players not stepping up and lack of leadership on pitch biggest problems for Treu’s men

    Injuries to Mbiyozo,Stick,Schoeman,Delport,Dazell,Benjamin,Zanqwa.loss of Aplon,Ebersohn,Demas,Snyman,

    Best BlitsBok lineup

    Horne
    Mbiyozo
    Stick
    Dazell
    Juries
    Mastriet
    Benjamin

  • 38.panniepeet: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2010, 01:54 am

    I watched most of the 7 series this year and it’s time for a overall clear up at the BlitzBokke – Cecil Afrika is a complete plank – dropping passes everywhere, missing tackles etc.. Niel Powell is over the hill, MJ Mentz just jogs around the park and Ryno Benjamin doing sweet f…all as usual – bunch of castaways and good for nothing prima donnas. Get some real good 7 players in there so that we can start competing again – a good start would be to give young, talented guys like Nick Koster and others a go.

  • 39.Springbokvel: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2010, 04:44 am

    7`s is a joke. The top countries send left-overs who can`t make franchise rugby to play on the circuit. Here again was an example of what can happen when only a few players of international quality are brought in eg. the Scots – suddenly looking like world beaters. We can`t play with the dwarfs at the olympics. Test players will have to be included if we want to have any chance.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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