Blitzboks lucky to be in Cup play-offs
4 Feb 2011
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Springbok Sevens’ inconsistent performances on day one at the Wellington Sevens.
The Blitzboks will have to thank Canada for their place in the Cup section. After their 31-5 win over the latter, they suffered a 14-12 loss to France in their second group match. All France had to do to confirm their Cup spot ahead of South Africa was to beat the lowly North Americans.
A French victory was expected against Canada, who also lost 38-0 against Fiji. However, Canada upset France with an 19-14 win, handing the Blitzboks a Cup play-off lifeline. South Africa followed with a draw against Fiji, confirming second place behind the Pacific Islanders in Pool D. But it was a match South Africa should have won.
Fiji were far the better team in the first stanza and rightfully took the lead after speedster Seremaia Burotu ran in the corner for the first try of the game. In reply, the Blitzboks couldn’t build any momentum on attack because of poor passing and handling while their defence was easily penetrated. South Africa were lucky to be trailing 7-0 at the break.
In the second half, the Blitzboks produced an improved performance. They camped inside Fiji’s red zone for most parts of the half but could only score one try through Branco du Preez to level matters.
Bernado Botha had the opportunity to dive over for the match-winning try, but he lost the ball forward over the line. South Africa were then awarded an injury-time penalty in a kickable position to clinch the match, but they went for the try and failed.
The Blitzboks will now face Australia in the Cup quarter-final on day two. In the other Cup play-offs, England face Argentina, Fiji play Samoa and New Zealand take on Wales.
Blitzboks results (Day 1):
South Africa 31 Canada 5
South Africa 12 France 14
South Africa 7 Fiji 7
Blitzbok fixtures (Day 2):
South Africa vs Australia (04:17 k/o)
For all fixtures and results, click here
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988 Comments
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5 Feb 2011, 18:19 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-797:
Sad thing is, i agree with you
5 Feb 2011, 18:19 pm
2 minutes left Italy 11 Ireland 13…The game is coming alive now!
5 Feb 2011, 18:20 pm
Same old same old in the games up to now.
Ain’t going to win diddly squat in 2011 like this?
S15 or RWC for that matter.
5 Feb 2011, 18:21 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-800: The Canapes will play havoc with his new figure!!
5 Feb 2011, 18:21 pm
@carol(carol)-798:
mmm, I can always organise a tandem
5 Feb 2011, 18:21 pm
What is Ricky, like 200 kilos?
5 Feb 2011, 18:22 pm
Ireland win….Time to walk the dogs.
5 Feb 2011, 18:22 pm
Lambie off. He’s been quiet.
5 Feb 2011, 18:23 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-806: Ricky’s showing improvement on 2010. Maybe he is still fresh?
Keep an eye on Potgieter. Bulls should have kept him for sure.
5 Feb 2011, 18:24 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-805: Get that bike sorted out surfer!!
See you later.
5 Feb 2011, 18:26 pm
Mark Lawrence still the avid closet Sharkie Varkie supporter
Stormers problem is no cohesion and no leadership which will continue long as Alister Coetsee and Schalk Burger run the show. Expect same as last year, much ado about nothing, all promise with no punch, which all went out the window when Luke Watson headed out of town.
5 Feb 2011, 18:26 pm
Habana could have more of that.
Like run into space and put someone else away.
But no, he chose contact. Move finished.
5 Feb 2011, 18:26 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-806:
Did you notice his big hit on Beast?
5 Feb 2011, 18:26 pm
@Bhloo(redj)-809: JLP is going to be good for us. Nice to have 2 FHs for such a long season.
Ricky is a whale, the WP renewed his contract and didn’t bother to tell the CEO. Nice.
5 Feb 2011, 18:27 pm
Riding tandam behind a female who loves rugby.
Stuff of dreams for sure!!!!
5 Feb 2011, 18:27 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-813: He’s bigger than Beast
5 Feb 2011, 18:27 pm
Guys, what’s the current score?
5 Feb 2011, 18:28 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-811: Nonsense, Lawrence is just a fairly very very average referee. Not sure why they rate him. Wish he spent as much time reading the rules as he does dying his hair.
5 Feb 2011, 18:28 pm
Januarie and Habana still fine players, only problem with Habana is in his head, he needs a shrink and fast.
5 Feb 2011, 18:29 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-817: 13 – 3 min
5 Feb 2011, 18:29 pm
13-3 Sharks. 25 to go.
5 Feb 2011, 18:29 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-817: 13 – 3
Scrappy game all sides. trying too much.
5 Feb 2011, 18:29 pm
13-3
Great White Sharks in the lead.
5 Feb 2011, 18:30 pm
55min
5 Feb 2011, 18:30 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-816:
Wider for sure
5 Feb 2011, 18:30 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-819: Only in your head. They are over.
5 Feb 2011, 18:33 pm
@Bhloo(redj)-815:
Only problem is that she is a Bulls supporter
5 Feb 2011, 18:33 pm
actually I like Lawrence I think he’s one the better saffa refs these other varkers like Jonker and some his other pals are so far up Bullsarselick its a dead giveaway if Bulls play at home with saffa ref its a 90/10 precondition swing
5 Feb 2011, 18:34 pm
@Bhloo(redj)-815: If you are riding tandem and she is in front it means she is steering… NEVER let a woman drive LOL.
5 Feb 2011, 18:34 pm
Italy gave the Oirish a mighty scare
I hope Stormers wake up soon, are they still behind?
5 Feb 2011, 18:36 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-828: Jonker is very very poor when it comes to the Bulls, yes.
5 Feb 2011, 18:36 pm
So the Lions will probably win the Neo-Africa Tri Series…
5 Feb 2011, 18:37 pm
seen better handling at U9 girls netball practice, these seasoned so called rugby professionals should take up knitting it might improve their hand eye coordination skills
5 Feb 2011, 18:37 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-832: That’s all we need. Would be like 1966 all over again.
5 Feb 2011, 18:37 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-822:
What do the scrums look like?
5 Feb 2011, 18:38 pm
@JL1(JL1)-830:
Yip, 13-3 20 to go. **** game…
5 Feb 2011, 18:38 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-834:
To be fair, it would be more like 1992…
5 Feb 2011, 18:40 pm
Habana and Januarie were kuk last year…..they still are. Nothing’s changed.
5 Feb 2011, 18:40 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-835:
Scrums have been uncontested for a while, Burden injured early, Beast in the blood bin. Sharks were on top of them early.
5 Feb 2011, 18:41 pm
20 Mins to go but all in all a very scrappy game which hasn’t shown a great deal in the preparedness of either side.
Individually there have been some obvious contenders from both sides, the usual suspects have all stepped up.
Might have been a different Stormers team with Schalk in the mix though today.
Sharks look hungry but lacking in accuracy. Stormers also having bursts of brilliance but Habana is going to hurt you this year with his selfishness.
Charl McLeod is looking more and more like a Bok scrummie, and if he isn’t picked then thanks the Sharks will have him every game.
Man of the match goes to Mark Lawrence’s trousers.
5 Feb 2011, 18:42 pm
Better scrum from Stormers. Brock managed to keep his head in that time.
5 Feb 2011, 18:42 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-835: Scums uncontested, Sharks decimated up front. When they were contested WP looked tighter than they have been, but hard to tell.
5 Feb 2011, 18:42 pm
I once got a ride whilst travelling through Thailand on the back of a moped with a young 19 year old princess of my dreams driving me back to my hotel, her long black hair blowing in my face. I actually thought I’d died and landed up in heaven. Couldn’t give a continental if she knew how to drive that thing or not, so happens she did.
God, never got that close to Nirvana ever again.
Nuff o that, back to this crappygame of rugby, if that’s what they supposedly call this sport
5 Feb 2011, 18:43 pm
How is Lawrence’s hair? Is it still alright?
5 Feb 2011, 18:43 pm
ma se po3s but habana is k@k!!! farking quota!!!! january also! … mvovo good game! …. habana se cherry ek hoop jy skrik wakker, soos habana nou speel gaan julle f0kkol geld he vir julle kids nie
5 Feb 2011, 18:44 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-840:
I think it would have been a better Stormers side with Duvenhage and Grant starting. Stormers backs not really in it although JdJ has looked good at times, as has Bosch.
16-3 Sharks 13 to go
5 Feb 2011, 18:45 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-843:
If you’d taken a peek around the front you probably would have found you were hanging onto a boner.
5 Feb 2011, 18:46 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-843:
Haha. Totally random but somehow relevant. Thanks for sharing that
5 Feb 2011, 18:46 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-843: Did she have ‘tackle’ under her dress?
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-844: Not sure, I think he’s moved from Head n Shoulders after the debacle with Kallis, and is preferring Redken for higlighted hair. A great risk in itself as it is designed for European conditions. I think he could do with a Bob Martin.
5 Feb 2011, 18:47 pm
knock on with try line a begging, Mvovo still looks the business but saffa rugby got far way to go to look anything like the No.1 male sport participated at highschool and university. Look like absolute shambles and Lawrence in love with his penny whistle.
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