Blitzboks lucky to be in Cup play-offs

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

Follow Gareth on Twitter

Follow SA Rugby mag on Twitter


988 Comments

Pages: « 1 … 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 [18] 19 20 » Show All

  • 851.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:48 pm

    Mvovo is pure gold..The Sharks try scoring machine. He is becoming another Andre Joubert…the X factor in the team.

  • 852.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:48 pm

    @Great White Shark(Predawn)-847:

    Hahahaha. rofl :D

  • 853.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:48 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-846: Still hanging your hat on Grant? Hmm for me he’s never stepped up the extra notch so I’d reather move on than flog a dead horse.

    Ask a Sharks’ fan, we hadn’t a FH for 10 years :-)

  • 854.oscarthedawg: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:48 pm

    If this game is anything to go by, I think I might just resign as a Stormers supporter this year. God, it’s boring. Lots of talent, but no pizazz. Coach conservative as hell. If you have to lose, at least lose with some flair.

    It’s been WAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYtoo long. Is the Western Province Volleyball team any good?

  • 855.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:49 pm

    Try Watts. Took it well 16-8, 2 points to come?

  • 856.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:49 pm

    @Great White Shark(Predawn)-851: As long as he doesn’t expect Jacobs to catch a pass with an open LINE FFS!

    And great build up try Stormers.

  • 857.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:50 pm

    @goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-849:

    I nearly hacked up a lung….thanks for the update.

  • 858.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:51 pm

    How much time is left?

  • 859.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:51 pm

    @goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-853:

    I like Grant. He’s pretty good at getting the backs moving and his place kicking is pretty good. His tactical kicking might not be his strong point, but think of the Stormers 2010 and I think you’ll see what’s missing in this game.

  • 860.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:53 pm

    January is back on the field?
    Maybe he just went of for a “Mars Bar” break

  • 861.Boo_Habana: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:53 pm

    this game is like sleeping with Skopskiet …. farking boring, no action!!!!!

  • 862.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:53 pm

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-858:

    About 5 mins. 16-10 sharks. Just enough time for a Habana intercept….

  • 863.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:53 pm

    5 Mins left Sharks on the rack. Losing the plot.

  • 864.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:53 pm

    Aich getting too close.

  • 865.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:53 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-862:

    Hmmmmmm…

  • 866.skopiskoobidoo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:54 pm

    she was all original female believe me pure natural nature endowed 100% God inspired female that much I can vouch for as once the dress came off weren’t a prodding bone outa place anyplace anywhere, pure delightful angelic south east Asian female, like I said Nirvana was just about less than couple mm away

    Stormers on the resurgence one more try to pull this crappygame out the fire

  • 867.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:54 pm

    Sharks down to 14. Stormers lineout on the 5m line, trying to drive it, collapses. Stormers on the line…arghh held up

  • 868.JL1: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:54 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-836: Neotel must have loads of money to be able to sponsor these training sessions or

    …..Some Marketing Manager has already started to look for another job

  • 869.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:55 pm

    Tryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

  • 870.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:57 pm

    Elstad (no 7 flanker) who just scored was about the best Stormer player on the field today

  • 871.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:57 pm

    @JL1(JL1)-868:

    Can’t imagine them doing it next year. No tv, small crowds.

    Cronje converts 17-16 to the good guys. 1 min left..

  • 872.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:57 pm

    Jacobs dropping the ball with an open try line lost the game. Useless useless player. Useless. has been.

  • 873.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:57 pm

    Gotta laugh.

    Stormers forward nearly picked up Mark Lawrence and dotted him behind the line.

    Nice try.

  • 874.skopiskoobidoo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:58 pm

    well there you have it nail in the coffin time, too bad Sharkie Varkies you tried hard but unless Lawrence gives you a get outa jail card this game is in the bag

  • 875.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:58 pm

    Holy shi.t

    Arsenal Nwcastle 4-4 after Newcastle were 4 -0 down..

  • 876.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:58 pm

    @I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-873:

    The most contact Mark Lawrence has taken all year?

  • 877.Bhloo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:58 pm

    second movement.
    Start of the season and the ref cheats already. He was right there ba stard.

  • 878.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 18:59 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-875:

    Wow!

  • 879.Bhloo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm

    @JL1(JL1)-868: Neotel on the rails, facing bankrupcy.

  • 880.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm

    Oh well at least we’re improving…

  • 881.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm

    Game over. Dunno how Stormers won that one????

    Still, a nothing game and it showed. Bring on the real stuff…

  • 882.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm

    Sharks managed to throw that one away. In real rugby Captain Stefan won’t be subbed.

    But then Smit will be underserved Captain in any case.

  • 883.skopiskoobidoo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm

    so Plascon Double Velvet trophy stays in Cape Town

  • 884.JL1: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:01 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-860: How far is Kentucky Fried Chicken from the grounds?

  • 885.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:02 pm

    To be fair Jacobs has been out of action for months. He can also score tries like a mamba.

  • 886.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:02 pm

    Stormers win.

  • 887.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:02 pm

    @skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-883:

    So it does – the Wall And All Challenge is now over :lol:

  • 888.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:02 pm

    @Great White Shark(Predawn)-880:

    Lol. You could see the game meant nothing. Impossible to gauge anything from this.

  • 889.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:04 pm

    C’mon the Jocks!!!!

  • 890.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:04 pm

    @JL1(JL1)-884:

    Who said KFC!!! Four pieces and a mash n gravy for me!!

  • 891.Bhloo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:05 pm

    “… the company’s recurring losses from operations and shareholders’ deficit raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern,” auditors Deloitte & Touche said in an annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission”.

  • 892.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:06 pm

    I love the French anthem. No fu.cking about, straight in there :D

  • 893.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:06 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-888:

    Zactly. I’ll only start vloeking and stressing once the tournament starts.

    Any Sharks injuries?

  • 894.JL1: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:06 pm

    @Great White Shark(Predawn)-890: Ok ok chill, back in the queue for you young one

  • 895.Bhloo: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:07 pm

    Anyway nothing learned from that game imho.
    Same paterns, nothing exciting playerwise.
    But still early days.

  • 896.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:07 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-889:

    Good luck- somehow I think they are going to struggle especially as it is away from home, but lets hope!

  • 897.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:07 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-892:

    Oh no. Wayne Barnes. expect no penalties against the Frogs and the odd forward pass here and there.

    I’m composing a death threat in advance…

  • 898.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:09 pm

    @JL1(JL1)-894:

    Slurp!!

  • 899.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:09 pm

    @Great White Shark(Predawn)-893:

    Burden went off early. Had an ice pack round the ankle. Beast was also off and on but otherwise i think that’s it.

  • 900.JL1: Reply to this comment
    5 Feb 2011, 19:10 pm

    Oops,,sorry Jock, French seem to be open to try anything today

Pages: « 1 … 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 [18] 19 20 » Show All

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.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.