Blitzboks’ streak sets up French clash
9 Dec 2011
GARETH DUNCAN, reporting from the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, watched the Springbok Sevens enjoy a flawless run on day one of the PE Sevens to create a Cup quarter-final draw against France.
It was a successful start to the tournament for the Blitzboks, who won all their group games and didn’t concede any points as they delivered a strong all-round game. While the crowd diminished during the final hours, mainly because of windy and cold weather, South Africa never lost their form as they showed good form throughout day one.
The most important win was against Australia, which proved to be the Pool C decider. After suffering a last-minute 17-14 defeat to the Aussies in the Plate final at the Dubai Sevens last weekend, South Africa dominated in 26-0 triumph.
The hosts won most of the possession in the first half, but struggled to turn this advantage into points. But returning playmaker Cecil Afrika managed to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time as he sniped a gap for a 7-0 lead.
Unsung hero Mark Richards then grabbed a second-half brace to help clinch the win for Paul Treu’s charges while Steven Hunt also continued his rich try-scoring form, diving over for his sixth try of the day.
The victory sets up a Cup quarter-final fixture against France on day two. The other top tier play-offs see Samoa tackle Wales, World Series log leaders Fiji face England and unbeaten New Zealand take on rivals Australia.
Earlier in the day, the Springbok Sevens thrashed Kenya 45-0.
To the chants of ‘Kyk hoe wen ons met Cecil!’, the Blitzboks delivered a convincing performance to ease past their African comrades. But while hometown boy Afrika was impressive – it was fellow PE-born speedster Hunt who was the star of the show, scoring four tries thanks to fantastic attacking play from the home team.
Hunt sealed his hat-trick in the first stanza as the Kenyans struggled to restrict the rampant Blitzboks. Afrika also grabbed a try to contribute to the 26-0 half-time lead.
Hunt ran in for his fourth try early after the restart while substitutes Richards and Boom Prinsloo came off the bench to complete the rout.
In their first game, the Springbok Sevens thumped Canada 33-0.
The Blitzboks entered the field to a standing ovation from a 8000-strong crowd, who showed up early on Friday. It seemed to have inpsired the hosts, who surged into a 12-0 lead thanks to tries from Branco du Preez, who dotted down from close range, and Chris Dry, who had an easy run in thanks to a clever chip from Afrika.
South Africa were dealt a blow when Hunt was yellow carded shortly before half-time because of a breakdown infringement. But Canada couldn’t capitalise on their one-man advantage as they struggled to break a strong defence.
Once the Blitboks returned to seven men, they regained the ascendancy. Hunt scored the first points of the second half as South Africa countered off a poor kick from the Canadians. Cornal Hendricks burst through to grab a try on debut while Richards finished off proceedings.
Blitzboks’ fixtures, day one:
South Africa 33 Canada 0
South Africa 45 Kenya 0
South Africa 26 Australia 0
Click here for all fixtures and results
160 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All
10 Dec 2011, 17:31 pm
@E.T. If ever a list of thick formless twats who pollute this website is ever condtucted , expect to see your name at the top of the list. Your density is your destiny. Even in your finest hour you will be found wanting.
10 Dec 2011, 18:31 pm
@ET.-146:
Your “rating” of Kallis is based on hatred and not on any verifiable facts or statistics so i will not take it seriously and even bother to respond.
10 Dec 2011, 18:56 pm
@stormer in a teacup-151: @Robzim-152:
It’s futile getting into any sort of discussion with that fool.
Greats like Kallis – and also Matfield – are only truly appreciated when they are no longer there.
10 Dec 2011, 22:06 pm
Having these posters @150, 151 and 152 more angry now, after their posts than before they posted, let me attempt to help their lack of critical thinking ability.
These poor, sad, worthless, foolish, unthinking fools will never ever realise that in this life, and no matter what aspect of it, it is never just about pure statistics and it will never be.
Do you think that the insult of apartheid denial to play in S.Africa never affected the likes of Sobers, Walcott, Worrell, Weekes, Gavaskar, D’Oliveira, Raman Subba Row and even the early Ganguly, Tendulkar and Dravid and a million more?
Will the impugning of their self-worth or respect or the daily insult to their humman dignity not get them to question their humman worth, skills and abilities and performances and more?
And please do not even mention motivation for they were mostly not allowed to play in S.Africa.
Do you even know that Raman Subba Row was the England captain and in form batsman in the series in England just before the England team was scheduled to tour in S.Africa, next? He was dropped to help you racist enjoy a cricket series and as a result retired soon after from international cricket.
What would Basil D’Oliveira’s real STATISTICS have been if he was picked for his country, S.A., as a huge potential since age 20(he was 30 plus when playing for England)?
What would Sobers’ averages have been if he was allowed to flog your Tayfields, Heine, Adcock, Goddard etc or let loose with Hall and Griffiths against your McGlew(a NAT), Goddard, Endean and more? See how particularly woorthless pure statistics are when S.Africa comes in to the equation?
Have you any appreciation of the idea of the holistic approach in all things in life which thus requires a consideration of perspective? Do I need to explain holistic?
@Robzim-152:
I have not “rated” “Karless” above at any time but have merely questioned your silly deification especially when you recently and correctly wanted him dropped against the Aussies in the ODIs.
On what do you base your categorisation of “hatred” that I supposedly reflect?
Why is there no hatred for Richards or Pollock or Sobers or all mentioned here and above?
I am sorry but against the likes of Pollock, Richards, Proctor, Kenny Mac and more, “Karless” is to me just slow, sluggish phlegm. Exceptionally boring because of simple selfishness, and yet we are told cricket is a TEAM game. Why did so many call for and get the selectors dropping him for ODIs so many times before?
@stormer in a teacup-151:
” you will be found wanting.”
You are so correct because I am so principled that I will always be “found wanting” when it comes to wanton, drunken destruction of property and of whatever esteeem he may have.
11 Dec 2011, 10:39 am
Friend in medical rescue tells me a diver drowned at soetwater yesterday..,
sympathies to family and friends
sorry… put this on wrong other thread
11 Dec 2011, 12:56 pm
@nama1-120:
Steven Waugh without any doubt should bat at 5 in any all-time world XI.
11 Dec 2011, 16:41 pm
@Upho-155:
Talk to a ex from Atlantis last night. She told me that her husbands brother drowned yesterday. Trying to find out if there is a correlation between the two incidents.
@Jeraldjay-156:
I’ll have Waugh at 6. I think he batted there for the most part of his career.
11 Dec 2011, 16:53 pm
@nama1-157:
Just heard from the girl.
Her brother-in-law is one of three okes from Mamre who drowned at St Helena Bay when their boat capsized. One body still missing.
This is horrible, especially in a small community such as Mamre.
11 Dec 2011, 17:51 pm
Hey Nama… (been hiking on the Mountain)… Sorry to hear about your ex’s brother in law… devastating time for her family and friends…
11 Dec 2011, 17:57 pm
@ET.-146:
“If you want to use the silly term “great” wrt “Karless” state the criterion of statistics in that notion.”
I gave you what you asked for and what do you do? Instead of arguing the stats you change the topic to something totally different.
Ja-wat.
@ET.-154:
“These poor, sad, worthless, foolish, unthinking fools…”
Please refrain from calling me names. I have not call you names…yet.
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.