Blitzboks hit jackpot in Vegas
13 Feb 2011
The Springbok Sevens beat Fiji 24-14 in the Cup final in Las Vegas to win their first tournament in two years.
The last time the Blitzboks won a Cup final was back on 5 April 2009 at the Adelaide Sevens during their World Series-winning campaign. Since then, they have suffered a poor run of form. Last season, they only reached one Cup final and lost five out of six Plate finals (which is the 5th/6th place play-off). This season, they failed to reach the Cup semi-final stage in the opening three tournaments and won only two out of three Plate finals.
However, they starred at this season’s Las Vegas tournament, completing an unbeaten run and securing the Cup title with impressive victories over England and Fiji.
In the Cup semi-final, Cecil Afrika inspired the Blitzboks to victory as they overturned a 10-0 deficit to beat England 17-10.
England dominated the first half and starved South Africa of possession to keep them scoreless at the break. Dan Norton and Tom Powell touched down to secure the former a 10-0 lead at half-time.
Then came the Blitzboks’ comeback. Branco du Preez’s chip ahead into space put speedster Afrika through for the first try. Afrika then turned provider as his long pass put Kyle Brown into space out wide and the skipper dived in at the corner to give South Africa the lead. With seconds left on the clock, the Blitzboks hung on to possession and were given a penalty in England’s red zone. Afrika converted the three-pointer, sealing a great comeback win.
In the final, the Blitzboks recorded an inspirational victory over a physical Fiji.
The Pacific Islanders were far bigger than their South African counterparts and used their size to their advantage as they dominated at the breakdown. However, the Springbok Sevens attacked smartly by running into space and offloading through the tackle. Clever interplay saw South Africa surge into an early 14-0 lead through Afrika and Du Preez.
Fiji hit back as Watisoni Vatu dotted down but Chris Dry’s try put South Africa 21-7 up at the break.
Fiji were within reach when Mitieli Nacagilevu crossed the whitewash but Bernando Botha’s try wrapped up proceedings and saw South Africa home. The Blitzboks’ tournament win puts them back into World Series title contention.
The Blitzboks’ campaign at the Las Vegas Sevens has regained Paul Treu and his players a lot of respect and they have every right to celebrate their impressive performances. However, they need to compete at this level and at the same intensity consistently. They have shown their full potential this past weekend by employing the correct game plan and playing to their strengths, but it will all be for nothing if they suffer another rough patch hereafter.
The reality is the Springbok Sevens have regressed since their 2008-2009 World Series triumph. This Las Vegas tournament victory is the perfect opportunity for them to turn things around.
Blitzboks fixtures and results, day 2:
Cup semi-final: South Africa 17 England 10
Cup final: South Africa 24 Fiji 14
For all fixtures and results click here
By Gareth Duncan
Follow SA Rugby mag on Twitter
146 Comments
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14 Feb 2011, 00:59 am
awesome win! Such determination. CAPO…..eating humble pie?
14 Feb 2011, 00:59 am
it has been too long- of course thsi doesn’t mean that we will beat them next time, but it was just getting agonising to have them beat us every time.
Wonderful!! Well done blitzbokke- it seems like cecil Afrika is great playmanker huh? he comes back, and we look strong again? I just wish we had Fabian Juries with us still. he should come back and get himself an olympic medal…
14 Feb 2011, 01:06 am
The last 90 mins. of this tourney was live on one of the national channels, NBC, meaning the S.A. semi against England and the final were shown.
Yesterday from 4.30pm EST until 6pm it was also live.
Cecil Afrika is the star of the tourney by a distance.
14 Feb 2011, 01:08 am
@XV(XV)-51:
You have got the wrong one. This one you refer to is the nick stealer racist who is now sick of the sterilty of RT.
14 Feb 2011, 01:08 am
TRIBUTE TO CECIL AFRIKA
The Great Man !!!!!!!!!!!!
The Hero of a Nation Today !!!!!!!!
We love you Cecil !!!!!!!!
Cecil would be an excellent choice for wing with Mvovo for the 15s. The lines he runs are like a sharp knife through wors.
Cecil is the next big thing.
14 Feb 2011, 01:13 am
Yeah not bad for a quota, its time to stop calling anything that we dont like a quota…credit to Paul and especially to Cecil…lets keep the progress going!!!
14 Feb 2011, 01:19 am
what a victory for the bokkies!great to see the celebrations …at least it seems black,white and coloured get along brillianty unlike here on keo where racists like charo,wooden spoon and others who still long for those pw botha days.
14 Feb 2011, 01:22 am
Paul Treu – future Bokke coach ?????
14 Feb 2011, 01:23 am
cecil afrika was brilliant and brought great energy to the team.
14 Feb 2011, 01:26 am
@capo(capo)-59: He is a future Bokke for sure. Those who say he is too small forget that Aplon proves this lies wrong. Cecil would be a fantastic impact player. How is the fat kiwi gonna catch our Cecil after 72 mins ?
14 Feb 2011, 01:30 am
@rugbygenius(rugbygenius)-58: Lets not get carried away now, he needs to prove himself in the 15 man game first, but maybe he ha a future, would like to sa SARU put in a progression play for something like that, dont think we invest enough in coach’s
14 Feb 2011, 01:30 am
totally agree with you rg.
14 Feb 2011, 01:35 am
now for kenya to make it a good day for africa in the nevada desert.
14 Feb 2011, 01:55 am
RG,you absolutely rock my man!
14 Feb 2011, 02:14 am
@Geldjie(Geldjie)-64: @capo(capo)-62: Dankie gentlemen ! We’re drinking wine in my house . Don’t care there is work tomorrow . Blitzbokke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14 Feb 2011, 02:57 am
@rugbygenius(rugbygenius)-60: I may be wrong, but he has been playing 15 man rugby for a while already and had little impact. Seems 7′s is his game, he was brilliant in Dubai, carried the Boks.
14 Feb 2011, 04:36 am
Awesome….well done boois.
Cecil is a star and he kicks well too. Lets hope they can keep winning run now. Branco will learn a lot from this form of game like our Giomite did.
I am surprised about this win as those Fijians are monsters, even the kiwis have 3 on the field at all times.
14 Feb 2011, 04:50 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-66: how does this work? you say ‘you maybe wrong’ which either means you don’t have any evidence about what you’re going to say. then you continue to make a claim on the player, still without providing supporting any shred of evidence.
cecil afrika played for the baby boks in 2008 with likes of nick koster, francois hougaard, duvenhage etc at wing and was absolutely brilliant using his pace to leave opponents eating dirt. after that year he went STRAIGHT to Sevens as paul treu offered him a contract and the provinces hadn’t yet. he was a youngster learning the ropes in the year when the likes of Aplon, Mbhiyozo, Robert Ebersohn, Benjamin, Stick won the World Series, now 2years later he has matured to the leader/player you see today.
so really i don’t know where he’s played 15 man rugby and made no impact!
but again you couched your baseless claim just incase.
14 Feb 2011, 05:03 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-68:
Sheesh Transie, I see emotions ran high on the weekend, no need to let it spill into the new week.
He did follow it with ‘but’ and I read it as he is not sure, too lazy to check or have no idea how google works and was venturing out on a vague (and now we know, wrong) recollection…
Part of this blog is that we can actually learn from one another and it would be much nicer if we do it in a friendly and helpful manner rather than full out attack.
14 Feb 2011, 05:25 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-69: hehehe what do you mean ‘emotions ran high’?
no man, i’m only asking for clarity, if i’m going to say slarti has been working at that company for a while and has made no impact the LEAST i should provide is evidence to support my claim. To just say ‘i may be wrong’ is useless.
14 Feb 2011, 05:31 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-69: the player that has impressed me the most this year is that Paul Jordaan, whoa, that boy has gas, a step of not and he is strong! Definitely our future inside centre. I can see him with juan de jongh in a few years time (quote me!) terrorising defences.
14 Feb 2011, 05:38 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-70:
Few odd caracters around on the weekend…:roll:
Fair enough but I bet you, you have never seen my name connected to a company. Kevin though, thought he did in the case of Cecil…turns out he WAS wrong after all!
14 Feb 2011, 05:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-71:
Trans, I see way to little of anything outside of Super rugby and tests to even comment but I will make a note of his name and look out for him in future…and I will remember who told me as well!
14 Feb 2011, 05:55 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-73: which team do you support kakade?
14 Feb 2011, 06:08 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-74:
I have been a long suffering Cheetah supporter.
14 Feb 2011, 06:13 am
Grammy song of the year does not go to B.o.B and Bruno Mars, unfortunately.
14 Feb 2011, 06:30 am
@ET.(ET.)-76: lady antebellum?
14 Feb 2011, 06:31 am
Album of the year goes to the Suburbs, Arcade fire.
14 Feb 2011, 06:33 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-77:
Yes with,I need you now. Sorry for my B.o.B and Bruno
14 Feb 2011, 06:38 am
Transie, Cecil Afrika was really on fire in the 3 games I saw him play on national tv.Without him none of those games would have been won.
Where exactly is he from.I do remember him from that koster u/20 ‘Bok juniors.
14 Feb 2011, 06:44 am
@ET.(ET.)-80: he is from Missionvale, in Port Elizabeth’sn Northern Areas!
14 Feb 2011, 06:52 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-81:
What a surprise that is!
Missionval, kleinskool, Bethelsdorp all said in the same breath with one hourly bus from the Bridge(Baakens) serving all 3 at once with a long ride.
Was Parnell not from some place close by too?
14 Feb 2011, 06:57 am
what a wonderful and welcome surprise to wake up to on a perfect morning in Paradise…
14 Feb 2011, 07:03 am
@grant10(grant10)-83:
You so lucky son of a gun.
And thanks for your concern but the gloaters have been nakedly exposed by the ploy.
14 Feb 2011, 07:23 am
Smile though your heart is aching,
Smile even though it’s beaking.
To those in need of that advice, take it freely and live with it.
14 Feb 2011, 08:58 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-68: Transformation, Afrika played for Griffons in 2007, 2008 and 2009 both in the Vodacom Cup and the CC Premier Division and is currently still a member of the Harmony Club. He was a bit “nat agter die ore” when he played there and will have a greater impact now for sure…
14 Feb 2011, 09:01 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-81: He might have been born in PE, but Cecil Afrika is from the States, the Freestates. He matriculated from Hentie Cilliers High School in Virginia, played for the Harmony Sports Academy and Craven Week for the Griffons
14 Feb 2011, 09:08 am
Well done Blitzboks.
14 Feb 2011, 09:10 am
@charo(charo)-12: Good post Charo.
14 Feb 2011, 09:23 am
@Watsonsemoer(Watsonsemoer)-86: i know he played for the Griffons, but for anyone to judge Cecil’s aptitude for the 15 man game from when he played for the griffons in ’06 – ’08 is as ridiculous as saying francois hougaard couldn’t make an impact at the Bulls and Bokke because Wp didn’t give him a contract after being with their U21s.
@fsjakes(fsjakes)-87: fair enough.
14 Feb 2011, 09:39 am
@ET.(ET.)-54: sorry ET…was referring to post #4……….
14 Feb 2011, 09:46 am
Damn!
So the Quotas managed to pull this one off!
14 Feb 2011, 09:49 am
@charo(charo)-12:
I was at that game to, it was a Sunday afternoon.
Had a couple of friends from CT visiting and we had a great day…. until I got home. My house had been broken into in broad daylight and ransacked
Broon fae Troon. what a legend.
14 Feb 2011, 10:33 am
It was fantastic. After the Fiji-vs-NZ game I thought there is nou way the Boks could win against Fiji! I haven’t seen such passion and sheer brutality in a 7s game for a long time! But then came the Boks and took it even a step further! Now this was true bok intensity! If they can play like that every tournament, they’ll always be champions.
14 Feb 2011, 10:34 am
I was dissapointed with Fiji leaving the stadium when they walked off the field, not even collecting their medals. Yeah, they’re passionate, but that was against the spirit of 7s Rugby.
14 Feb 2011, 10:43 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-92: yeah, the Qoutas and their Quota Coach!!!
14 Feb 2011, 10:44 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-92: in ONE tournament they beat Australia, England & Fiji!
14 Feb 2011, 11:03 am
@Watsonsemoer(Watsonsemoer)-86: My point exactly! you obviously did not read my post have you? I said he was a junior when he played there and SHOULD make a bigger impact now. If you stop being so defensive and actually read other posts you would not argue for the sake of argueing!
14 Feb 2011, 11:07 am
@Bouts(Bouts)-95:
yep no handshakes either.
14 Feb 2011, 11:14 am
@Watsonsemoer(Watsonsemoer)-98: when i said in my post “for anyone” i wasn’t referring to you, so get off your high horse! you are no one of the people who declared that his impact in the 15 man game is insignificant.
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