Blitzboks to face Poms in Cup semis
13 Feb 2011
The Springbok Sevens beat Australia 19-14 in the Cup quarter-finals to finish unbeaten on day one at the Las Vegas Sevens.
After cruising through their first two group games against hosts America (27-5) and Japan (35-0), the Blitzboks worked hard for their 7-7 against Samoa to top Pool D.
The World Series defending champions scored first as veteran Uale Mai scored a converted try in the second minute of play. Towards the end of the first stanza, Renfred Dazel crossed the chalk and Cecil Afrika slotted the conversion to level matters.
Both teams had a scoreless second half as they failed to convert their opportunities. This ensured that South Africa finished first in Pool D with a better points difference, which booked them a Cup quarter-final tie against Australia.
Australia were favourites to beat the Blitzboks as they have won more play-off fixtures in recent fixtures, but the latter surprised with a great performance to advance to their first Cup semi-final this season.
Branco du Preez opened the scoring with five-pointer but Australia secured a half-time lead as John Grant dived over with Hamish Angus adding the extras.
South Africa then built a commanding lead with two early tries in the second half through skipper Kyle Brown and speedster Cecil Afrika. Australia created some late excitement as Lewis Holland scored in the corner at the death but Paul Treu’s charges held on for victory.
The Springbok Sevens will face England in the Cup semi-final on day two.
Blitzboks results, day one:
South Africa 27 USA 5
South Africa 35 Japan 0
South Africa 7 Samoa 7
South Africa 19 Australia 14
For all fixtures and results click here
20 Comments
12 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm
Late night Dragon watching rugby – I think not.
13 Feb 2011, 02:35 am
Bokke!!!
13 Feb 2011, 07:59 am
Sonny Bill Williams has converted to Islam.
13 Feb 2011, 08:09 am
He’s clever. With that turban and full beard the punches won’t hurt as much.
13 Feb 2011, 11:38 am
Like Muhammad Ali’s turban and beard, then?
13 Feb 2011, 11:44 am
From the NZ Herald:
SBW Embraces Islam
He’s converted from a rugby league teen sensation into an All Black juggernaut, and along the way become a promising heavyweight boxer.
But Sonny Bill Williams has also made a spiritual conversion to Islam.
While rumours of the 25-year-old sporting superstar’s religious beliefs have circulated for some time, the Herald on Sunday can reveal he made the leap of faith two years ago.
He has since become the first Muslim to wear the All Black jersey, and requested halal food during the Northern Hemisphere tour last year.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when followers are forbidden from eating between dawn and sunset, falls in August this year – when the All Blacks play three Tri Nations matches. It is during the final build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
Williams regularly attends Friday prayer sessions at a Christchurch mosque, according to friends.
Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand first vice-president Javed Khan said his allegiance was commonly known among the Muslim community.
“He is practising the religion and he is a great role model for the youngsters. We will pray to Allah that he will win the World Cup for us. Everyone talks about it you know. The Muslim community, everyone knows everyone, you know.”
Williams’ manager Khoder Nasser and mentor, league star and boxer Anthony Mundine, are both Muslims, as is his brother Johnny, who lives with him in Christchurch.
This YouTube footage appears to show Williams performing a Muslim prayer in the changing room before his debut for Canterbury against Bay of Plenty in the ITM Cup last year (first 5 seconds only):
w w w .nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10705928
Williams’ friend Tairek Smith said he had regularly prayed with the 1.91m, 108kg second five-eighth since he embraced the Sunni branch of Islam during a ceremony at the Regent’s Park mosque in Sydney’s western suburbs in 2008, where former Canterbury Bulldogs teammate Hazem El Masri attends.
All Black manager Darren Shand said the star’s religious beliefs had a “minimal” impact on the team.
He said: “He has talked to us about his dietary needs and we do make some concessions there. We request halal beef and so on but he doesn’t make a big deal of it.
“We always leave players’ religious affiliations and a lot of those holistic things outside of the game. That’s their personal life and they decide what they do.”
When asked if his faith clashed with the All Blacks’ philosophy for encouraging players to be free thinking and self reliant, Shand said Williams was a “sponge” for information.
“That’s why he is so good at all the sports he has been involved in. He just ticks all the boxes. He wants to be the best.”
Since converting to Islam, Williams has put a string of embarrassing alcohol-related incidents behind him.
He is in training for the Crusaders’ Super Rugby campaign and was unavailable for comment.
* * *
Sporting conversions
Muhammad Ali: The boxing legend changed his name from Cassius Clay in 1964.
Mike Tyson: converted to Islam after being imprisoned for rape in 1992.
Brad Thorn: The hardest man in NZ rugby gave up the hard living in 1998 to become a Christian.
Kaka: the Real Madrid football superstar suffered a spinal fracture at age 18, and devoted his life to God after his miraculous recovery.
Mark “Bull” Allen: The shaven-headed former All Black prop and TV personality joined Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church.
13 Feb 2011, 11:45 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-3: Yeah, Just read that in the New Zealand Herald.
Sonny Bill William Embraces Islam. First Muslim to wear the All Black Jersey.
13 Feb 2011, 11:46 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-5: snap…hehe. Just read it now too.
13 Feb 2011, 11:51 am
So Sonny is a Sunni.
Most thought he was a sh’ite.
13 Feb 2011, 11:54 am
So players better be careful on the high tackles or any dirty play against him else a fatwa will be issued against them
13 Feb 2011, 11:57 am
Frankly, I don’t care what religion people follow. All to their own. Think we here in SA are very tolerant to peoples religion.
13 Feb 2011, 12:00 pm
Sonny wears the Crusaders Jersey.
On which is a stylised Cross of the Knights Templer.
Strange but true.
13 Feb 2011, 12:06 pm
Back to the 7′s.
It seems Cecil Afrika’s return has boosted SA.
Is it enough to beat England.
I think not quite.
England/NZ Final.
p.s. I would prefer a SA/NZ Final.
13 Feb 2011, 12:06 pm
@cane(cane)-12: Maybe he can come play for the Sharks. We wear a black jersey with MR PRICE on…
hehe.
We need centres like him.
13 Feb 2011, 12:09 pm
@cane(cane)-13: Have not watched much of this 7′s Cane. But did watch the 7′s tourney in NZ. Enjoy it, very much a carnival affair there. Everyone goes fancy dress to the stadium.
We never done well there. But hope we can beat England, also somehow doubt it.
13 Feb 2011, 12:15 pm
Sonny bin Williams?
13 Feb 2011, 12:26 pm
@Puma(Puma)-14:
After the WC, if the PRICE IS RIGHT. He will play anywhere Puma.
South Sydney Rabbitohs (Rugby League) owned by Russel Crow have expressed an interest through the Media.
13 Feb 2011, 12:37 pm
@cane(cane)-17: Cane, I think he is just biding his time in Union right now, until after the world cup. He probably will go back to League, or if the money is right play for any team. Lions have the big bucks now, he could get top dollar there, who knows. But he will be on the hunting list of many francises. If they can afford him.
13 Feb 2011, 16:26 pm
If he changes his name it’s going to be a bit of a challenge fitting Abu Kareem Muhammad al-Jameel ibn Nidh’aal ibn Abdulaziz al-Filisteeni on the rugby jersey..
14 Feb 2011, 03:01 am
Sunni Bin Williams can’t practise or play during the Ramadan because you can’t eat or drink anything (even halftime drinks) during daytime.
Ramadan falls immediately before the RWC.
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