Blitzboks to face Poms in cup quarters
10 Dec 2010
The Springbok Sevens will square up against England in the cup quarter-finals after topping Pool D on day one at the George Sevens.
Head coach Paul Treu will be delighted with his team’s performances on Friday as they finished undefeated with wins over Portugal, Zimbabwe and Argentina at Outeniqua Park. While they were inconsistent in Dubai last weekend, South Africa managed to impress in all three games. Their win over Zimbabwe was marred by fatigue at the death, but overall it was big step up from their display in the Middle East.
Treu said on Thursday that his team needed to beef up on defence, run the right channels and concede less penalties in order to be consistent. Mission accomplished. Although it was against easy opposition, it will be a big confidence booster for his players heading into a tough day two on Saturday, when the real challenge begins.
They will face Dubai champions England on day two after the latter finished second in Pool C. Defeat will turn the Blitzboks’ campaign into failure while a win will give them hope of achieving only their second tournament title on home soil in 11 seasons. South Africa will need to build on the momentum they gained on day one and maintain their consistency. If not, they will lose and will have to compete in the plate section – the second tier of competition in the tournament.
Against Argentina in their final Pool D fixture, the Blitzboks recorded a 29-5 win.
The hosts gained ascendancy early in the match as they surged into a 10-0 lead as Paul Delport and Sibusiso Sithole dived over. Argentina were reduced to six men before Bernado Botha scored the last try before the break to see South Africa lead 17-0 at half-time.
When Sithole completed his brace and Kyle Brown bashed through for the Blitzboks’ fifth try, the game was sealed. Argentina managed to add respectability to the score with a try in the dying seconds.
In their second group fixture, the Springbok Sevens cruised to a 33-7 win over Zimbabwe.
The Blitzboks didn’t receive much of a challenge from their southern African neighbours, who were dominated in all facets of play. South Africa, however, looked scrappy on attack at times, especially at the death. A more polished performance will be needed against stronger opposition on day two.
Despite coming off early in the second stanza, Cecil Afrika was the star of the match as he scored 18 points while he also played a play-maker’s role at first receiver by setting up scoring opportunities for his team-mates through sniping runs and accurate passes.
South Africa built a commanding lead early in the match as Afrika dotted down twice and Peter Engelbrecht dived over. Zimbabwe managed to score their only try against the run of play thanks to a knock-on from the Blitzboks’ in the former’s red zone. The half-time score read 21-7.
The Blitzboks sealed the game with two tries after the restart as Afrika put Bernado Botha and Franki Horn through for the defining scores. The match ended on a sour note as play became erratic at the death because of fatigue.
In their opening match, the Springbok Sevens scored six tries in their 38-0 win over Portugal.
Kyle Brown grabbed a brace while Bernado Botha, Cecil Afrika, Pieter Engelbrecht and Steven Hunt crossed the chalk in a convincing display over the European minnows. The Blitzboks also impressed on defence and starved Portugal of possession as they ruled the breakdown.
Botha opened the scoring after finishing off a good set-piece move, while Brown, Afrika and Engelbrecht dotted down for a 26-0 lead at the break.
The Blitzboks only managed two more tries in the second half through Brown and Hunt. Portugal had an opportunity to score a consolation try at the death, but South Africa’s cover defence forced play into touch to end the match.
In other results, New Zealand won all three of their group games, including a 20-7 win over England, to top Pool C. Wales and Fiji also finished first in their respective pools while Australia and Samoa also qualified for the Cup quarter-finals.
Blitzboks fixtures:
SA 38 Portugal 0
SA 33 Zimbabwe 7
SA 29 Argentina 5
For all fixtures and results click here
32 Comments
10 Dec 2010, 11:46 am
It is that time of the year and for the first time in 6 years I am taking an extended Christmas break. I would like to wish all the guys and girls on here a very blessed festive season. Be safe wherever you may find yourself, and see you all next year apart from the odd pop in I will make from time-to-time.
Ciao!
10 Dec 2010, 11:52 am
@PissAnt : 1 – PissAnt, Enjoy your holiday. Have a great Christmas and all the very best for the New Year buddy.
10 Dec 2010, 12:02 pm
Any score yet?
10 Dec 2010, 12:21 pm
@PissAnt : Gonna miss your logical and interesting posts. Happy holidays.
10 Dec 2010, 12:24 pm
Wales klapped Australia 33-16 in the first game of the day.
10 Dec 2010, 12:24 pm
@iori Yagami : Sorry 33-15
10 Dec 2010, 12:27 pm
@iori Yagami : World Champs Indeed
10 Dec 2010, 12:40 pm
@PissAnt : Post 1.
No dragon in that post PA.
To you and yours, all the very best for Christmas.
10 Dec 2010, 12:40 pm
@PissAnt : Cheers mate. Make the most of it. See you on the flip side.
10 Dec 2010, 12:56 pm
England and Samoa were extremely impressive in Dubai.
Hard to see anyone else topping Them in George.
10 Dec 2010, 14:23 pm
SOUTH AFRICA 38 – 0 PORTUGAL
ENGLAND 19 – 5 RUSSIA
NEW ZEALAND 47 – 0 KENYA
FIJI 47 – 7 NAMIBIA
SAMOA 24 – 22 UNITED STATES
SCOTLAND 21 – 12 FRANCE
AUSTRALIA 15 – 33 WALES
10 Dec 2010, 14:33 pm
Didn’t the Boks beat England in the pool game in Dubai?
10 Dec 2010, 14:52 pm
Geez NZ look good. 47-0 against Kenya is not a trivial result.
10 Dec 2010, 14:53 pm
@kaksioek : some of those results are not very flattering. ENG? SAMOA by 2 over USA?
10 Dec 2010, 15:03 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck : I guess the US are getting serious about sevens now because it is an Olympic sport. Soon they will be routinely kicking our asses.
10 Dec 2010, 19:39 pm
The trouble with The blitzboks and while i,m at it The springboks Is your not letting The prawns have a chance, fair enough there Are a lot of non white players in both teams these days , but The prawns arn’t being given the same opportunities as other non white south africans.The government should be pumping money into district 9, building rugby fields supplying boots and balls so young prawns can aquire The skills of there esteemed countrymen.It seems pretty obvious to me your average prawn would make a good rugby player,they are fast and strong and would improve the bok backline imensely .South Africa has improved its international image greatly in The past 15 years , but this continued marginilisation of The saffer prawn community will only damage all the hard work.Does anybody else think prawns should be intergrated into the SA rugby community?Looking forward to your feedback .
10 Dec 2010, 21:06 pm
Blitzbokke played 3 won 3.
So far, so good.
If it’s the Kiwis vs Boks in the final, I know who I’d put my money on.
10 Dec 2010, 21:51 pm
Blitz — those greasy, oily blocks that catch fire and then just burn out to nothing under a pile of dead wood?
Apt. Very apt.
10 Dec 2010, 22:05 pm
Who beat the Poms? I watched from the sideline and they klapped the AB’s in Dubai?
Boks are consistent, that’s great, but they going to have to bring a big game to the English. They big, fast, and direct.
10 Dec 2010, 22:09 pm
how do these pools work? Eng (winners) and AB’s (semi finalists) last week in the same pool???
Had to go to supersport to get results
10 Dec 2010, 22:11 pm
@kevin w :
AB’s won 20 7
Next match-ups
US vs France
Wales vs Samoa
SA vs Eng
NZ vs Arg
Fiji vs Aus
10 Dec 2010, 22:25 pm
@TheTackler :
Some guys are natural braaiers, while others aren’t.
You weren’t very good now, were you?
10 Dec 2010, 22:25 pm
@I am a stormer : thanks mate – the english were awesome last weekend.
@TheTackler : still remember blitz … sweet – is that homesick **** or puss now that you in Tasmania.
10 Dec 2010, 23:14 pm
wow the post says at one stage argentina was reduced to 14men! not really fair 14 against 7.
11 Dec 2010, 05:25 am
@TheTackler : 18
“Blitz — those greasy, oily blocks that catch fire and then just burn out to nothing under a pile of dead wood?”
Blitz – What South Africans do to the Australian cricket team. Even under the guise of English players.
Four 100′s by English players in two test matches… 3 of them by SA born players, including a double hundred.
How are you going to handle the REAL DEAL in two years time?
11 Dec 2010, 08:30 am
@TheTackler :
Tackler, sometimes you have some really valid and relevant arguments and points, and then on other occasions you just come accross as a dooooooooos!
11 Dec 2010, 09:02 am
@nama1 : The Proteas will choke again. Obviously. They’re experts.
11 Dec 2010, 10:08 am
@TheTackler : Dunno about choking, this time around. They will limp into the tournament instead of outright favourites after nearly two years of poor ODI form, with England and India looking the real deal. Outsiders for the first time since 1992. Is it a choke if you are an outsider?
11 Dec 2010, 10:20 am
@bokke baiter :
before you can embark on that noble enterprise you must ensure that Wikus is on board .
11 Dec 2010, 10:44 am
@TheTackler :
Choking in World Cups?
Don’t go there.
You,of all people,should know that.
@BishopsOD :
Bangladesh 5 Black Caps 0
India 5 Black Caps 0
Well, lets put it this way, I know who aren’t favourites.
They’re just making up the numbers.
11 Dec 2010, 11:35 am
@TheTackler : #27
You can’t choke if you are not the favourites.
For the first time India is the favourites in a series against SA IN SA. It will be a cracker, I tell you.
Unlike that little series between that two “also ran” going on Down Under. Only thing of interest in that series is how the South Africans perform. And up to now, they are doing brilliantly, wouldn’t you say?
I see that you are now even selecting players (Beer) after consultation with another South African (Arthur). You know, our former coach who is now trying to teach you how to play cricket.
My goodness…how the mighty/arrogant have fallen.
Speaking of choking…you mean like that other team in that other sporting code? What do they call them again?
… Oh yeah…now I remember…you support that team, don’t you?
12 Dec 2010, 00:00 am
@nama1 : The yarpies are sure to choke against the Aussies again, even if Punter’s team aren’t the favourites.
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