Blitzboks’ streak sets up French clash

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

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  • 1.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:16 pm

    come on transie, where’s the live minute by minute updates (with additional complimentary cut n pastes’ of older articles) of the action down in pe, man?… :grin:

    obviously not going to be a journalistic dragon…

  • 2.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:27 pm

    South Africa vs Canada (13:49 k/o)………………………….Canada by 5.
    South Africa vs Kenya (16:55 k/o)…………………………………Kenya by 2.
    South Africa vs Australia (20:38 k/o),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ozzie by 12.

  • 3.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:31 pm

    Next Game NZ vs Morocco.

    Well well,
    this is most likely the first time ever,
    NZ has played Morocco in anything.

  • 4.charo: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:40 pm

    @cane-3:

    how’s the cricket going?

  • 5.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:41 pm

    @charo-4:

    8)

    This is a Rugby Site charo……………………………………No cricket please.

  • 6.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:43 pm

    @cane-2:
    you chop!
    watch the blitze cream all three of those teams (no thanks to a certain nz sportswear company’s ridiculous jersey and pants combo) … :grin:

    @cane-3:
    this is likely the first time ever,
    morocco has played anybody in anything (dry camel toe humping or racing does not count)….

  • 7.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 13:57 pm

    Canada 12 down already.

    Good game to win from here.

    Go Canada.

  • 8.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:00 pm

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-6:

    Morocco scored a try.
    Great stuff.
    (More than your lot managed against Aussie in the WC QF).

  • 9.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:03 pm

    Saffa Binned………………………………………..

  • 10.charo: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:03 pm

    @cane-5:

    8)

    well over the past few days the bloggers have managed to discuss….

    toyi toying
    non-marching white saffas
    pet dogs
    intimacy with wild animals (no, not sheep, so calm down)
    corruption in saffa cricket….yes, cricket!

  • 11.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:14 pm

    33-0 to SA.

    Bad luck Canada.

    Another IRB conspiracy to keep the Home Team in the Competition.
    Was Bryce Reffing this one as well, or are all IRB Refs Stooges.

  • 12.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:15 pm

    Who is Hendricks that scored for blizbokke?

  • 13.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:16 pm

    @cane-11: Ja tough break.

  • 14.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:19 pm

    @charo-10:

    Freedom of the Press and Aliens, anal probing Earthings, was getting some attention recently as well.

    Never a dull moment charo.
    Never a dull moment.

    8)

  • 15.Gareth: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:19 pm

    @Sasuke-12: Boland utility back

  • 16.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:24 pm

    @cane-7:
    :lol:
    ja, go canada… go all the way to jail, do not pass begin, do not collect $200….

    @cane-8:
    see you cant let go of that incident as much as we cant… dont worry, i know…i know..dirty play to win a game (and an even dirtier ref who looks away) grates me just as much… 8)

  • 17.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:27 pm

    @Sasuke-12: Is Cornal Hendricks from Boland? I have never heard of him.

    Only 8000? Cape Town Stadium would have been filled…..all the yuppies from Green Point would have flooded the stadium.

  • 18.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:29 pm

    @Gareth-15: Snap! i thought so! That name is popular in the Cape Winelands.

  • 19.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:32 pm

    I’ve logged into this thread just to say that I couldn’t care less whether Iceland or Irkutsk wins the Sevens.

    OK, logging out again.

  • 20.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:35 pm

    @Tacitus-19: seeing that you wont be logging into this thread again……..Prat!

  • 21.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:39 pm

    @Sasuke-20:

    I’ve logged back into this thread just to tell you that I retain the right to log back in and out again whenever the have the whim overtakes me.

    Out.

  • 22.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:40 pm

    And to correct grammar errors.

    Out.

  • 23.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:45 pm

    @Tacitus-21:
    hehehe how very ET’esque of you… :grin:

  • 24.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:46 pm

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-23:

    Jeepers, that’s an insult.

  • 25.charo: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:47 pm

    @Sasuke-17:

    pe is a wekkaz town

    the ous are still fitting the last wheelnuts to the polo’s before they can get to the stadium

  • 26.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:53 pm

    @charo-25:

    lunchtime finish on friday though?

    even transie has given his subordinates the arvie off to watch the game.

  • 27.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:54 pm

    @Tacitus-24:
    oh i’m sorry, its just that its, as you know, a trademark et move to log in make a ‘pronouncement’ of sorts and then log out again.
    no offense intended… :grin:

  • 28.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:55 pm

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-27:

    Hehe. I will try to keep my chin up, after that esteem shattering comparison.

  • 29.charo: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 14:57 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-26:

    subordinates?

    no motor bike deliveries then?

  • 30.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 15:09 pm

    @Tacitus-21: lol jolly well then

  • 31.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 15:13 pm

    @Tacitus-28:
    notwithstanding the shattered esteem, aren’t you supposed to be at the sevens with transie, getting drunk?

  • 32.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 15:26 pm

    A ‘solid start’ begins at the semi’s for any self-respecting 7′s nation…

  • 33.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 15:52 pm

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-31:

    I don’t go to rugby to experience a “festival atmosphere”. I go there to watch my team clobber the opposition.

    I can have a festival atmosphere at home. I don’t need to go and sit amongst 20 000 drunk idiots to have a good time.

  • 34.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 16:32 pm

    @Tacitus-33:
    hehehe i think you might have just shattered transie’s esteem…
    oh and by the way, apparently its only 8000 ‘festival attendees’.

  • 35.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 16:58 pm

    tac, you’re such a cad…how many draughts u want?

  • 36.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 17:10 pm

    @Transformation-35:

    Draught? Tac is a bulls fan I suggest u buy him brandy and coke if you are serious about the friendship.

    Warriors struggling against Cobras in final . 122/4 after 29.

  • 37.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 17:46 pm

    i hear you robbie…i’ll have to hop skip out of the stadium to chaleez to get a ‘cellular’ of klippies & hide it in my nethers for taccie…

    That mark richards boy looks to be full of fire..

  • 38.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 17:58 pm

    What a catch by Greame S!

    Good fightback by Warriors but now they under pressure again with Botha and Ashwell out.

    178 for 6 after 40.

  • 39.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:27 pm

    What is up with Tac today.

  • 40.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:29 pm

    Why does he have his head in bag of angry squirrels.

  • 41.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:42 pm

    @Dawn-40:

    Hehe.

  • 42.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:44 pm

    Watsup toga Tac you know I dig your style.

  • 43.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:46 pm

    Langeveldt is dead ringer for keohane.

  • 44.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:53 pm

    Tacitus is in trouble- i wonder what is is that these bull fans have that the girls dig them so much…. cannot be the horns, surely?

  • 45.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 18:56 pm

    :lol:

  • 46.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 19:04 pm

    Paul Adams got quite an interesting gangsta style “beard” while Kepler should have applied more SPF 50 + at an earlier age.

  • 47.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 19:19 pm

    @Dawn-42:

    Getting grumpy with the lack of rugby on weekends.

  • 48.Jeraldjay: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 19:24 pm

    @Dawn-43:
    Did Keo also grow up in Cloetesville.

  • 49.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 19:30 pm

    Lets see what WBHS x2 can do here.

  • 50.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Dec 2011, 19:43 pm

    @Robzim-49:

    Not much, Jacques gone , brilliant catch by Makaya. 40/2 with Smith and the greatest cricketer in SA’s history both out. Plenty of batting to come though.

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