Blitzboks fall at last hurdle
10 Dec 2011
GARETH DUNCAN, reporting from the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, watched the Blitzboks concede a last-minute try in a 31-26 Cup final defeat to New Zealand on day two of the PE Sevens.
The inaugural PE Sevens finished in 20 minutes of madness.
Ahead and during this fixture, the crowd created a magical atmosphere – something that was missing throughout the weekend’s festivities. The St Georges band arrived late during the day and their presence ignited an electric mood around the park, especially with the large All Blacks club who sat themselves in the seats below them. It was a fitting stage for the Blitzboks and New Zealand, who were clearly the two best teams at the tournament.
For New Zealand, it was their eighth consecutive Cup final appearance while it was only the hosts’ third in their history, having previously won one and lost one – both to the former. And on this occasion, the Kiwis went on to win their ninth South African leg Cup title thanks to Tomasi Cama, who scored and converted a try in the last move of the game.
It was a close contest in the first half, which ended 17-14 at the break in the Kiwis’ favour. DJ Forbes led from the front and powered over for the opening try, which was cancelled out by Bernado Botha’s finish. The hosts were then dealt a blow when Boom Prinsloo was yellow-carded for a professional foul at the breakdown.
From a defending scrum, the Blitzboks crumbled and Cama capitalized to dive over for his first five-pointer. Once South Africa returned to seven men, Botha went on to score his fourth try of the tournament – but New Zealand held a slender half-time lead after Frank Halai crossed the chalk.
The Blitzboks dominated the early parts of the second half, surging into a 26-17 lead with Steven Hunt and Cecil Afrika running over from close range. But defensive lapses at the death saw Halai and Cama complete their braces, the latter score a controversial one as a few South African players believed they were tripped during the final play. But Australian referee Anthony Moyes waved play on as Cama broke South African hearts.
The day’s results sees Fiji and New Zealand share the World Series table lead with 51 log points each. The Fijians performed badly on day two, which ended with a 48-0 thrashing from Wales in the Plate final. The Blitzboks find themselves third on the table with 48 log points while England (47) and France (38) trail closely behind.
Earlier in the day, the Springbok Sevens downed Samoa 12-7 in the Cup semi-final.
It was a physical clash and one the hosts handled well as they kept the game tight and capitalised on favourable field position. They spent most of the first half in Samoa’s 22m area, and they finished two scoring opportunities to take a 12-0 half-time lead. A Branco du Preez side step and break opened the scoring while Botha showed great power out wide to finish in the corner. Samoa ended the half with six men when Afa Aiono was sin-binned for striking Kyle Brown with the forearm.
After the second stanza restart, South Africa placed a greater emphasis on restricting the Pacific Islanders – which they did to great effect. Samoa struggled to break into the hosts’ red zone but managed to score a late try through Paul Perez. The Blitzboks, however, still did enough for a place in the Cup final
In their first match of the day, Cecil Afrika scored two crucial tries in the Springbok Sevens’ 26-12 win over France in the Cup quarter-final.
Coming off a 19-5 Cup defeat to the French in the same fixture at the Dubai Sevens last weekend, the Blitzboks ended on top on this occasion thanks to their hometown playmaker. But it didn’t come easy, as an attacking error saw Terry Bouhraoua put the opposition 5-0 ahead.
An Afrika run set up Boom Prinsloo minutes later while the former also dotted down after sniping a gap. But Renaud Delmas finished off a late attack, which capitalised on the hosts’ shaky rearguard. The half-time score read 12-12.
The Blitzboks produced a strong second half showing to seal their place in the top four. Brilliant stepping from Afrika saw the speedster grab his 70th World Series try while Botha finished off proceedings after chasing down a Du Preez chip.
Blitzboks’ fixtures, day two:
Cup quarter-final: South Africa 26 France 12
Cup semi-final: South Africa 12 Samoa 0
Cup final: South Africa 26 New Zealand 31
Click here for all day two fixtures and results
1,234 Comments
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10 Dec 2011, 11:28 am
No WePee All Black supporters in sight… So far so good Dragons
10 Dec 2011, 11:41 am
I just had to spoil your Saturday, Go Province
10 Dec 2011, 11:41 am
Go Blitsbokke
10 Dec 2011, 11:50 am
You have to love the journos here, written by Gareth. All 12 words inclusive of the heading
Written most probably in the pub
10 Dec 2011, 11:57 am
@JL1-4:
If he can do that, then he can do the same to create a dedicated cricket channel for the summer.
Gareth, are you paying attention?
10 Dec 2011, 12:02 pm
IAAS you need to speak up, Gareth is just getting the orders in and contemplating if you should have the 350g rump with a peppercorn sauce or with a Hollondaise sauce
The tough decisions
10 Dec 2011, 12:03 pm
I mean, why not update us a bit about the crowd,vibe or player backgrounds
10 Dec 2011, 12:12 pm
That PE Stadium is looking good… Sharks and WP must wake up, up sticks and make the move into these incredible stadiums… NO excuses!
10 Dec 2011, 12:13 pm
@JL1-7: Crowd looking good… Vibe is a damn sight better than George. And no Cape Crusaders to be found, so far.
10 Dec 2011, 12:15 pm
HG
Are you there?
They reckon 30 000 tickets sold for today
10 Dec 2011, 12:17 pm
@JL1-10: Nope, watching on Sky HD
10 Dec 2011, 12:18 pm
Should have had the sevens on Sat and Sunday, yesterday looked dire
I am glad PE has not got those idiot Cape Crusader fans.They are pathetic the whole lot of them
10 Dec 2011, 12:18 pm
@JL1-10: Wish I was there though. Early in the day and I reckon the crowd is at least 20000 already.
10 Dec 2011, 12:19 pm
@JL1-12: Yeah, but it seems all the 7′s tournaments are held on Fri and Sat. Maybe not the fault of the PE organisers…
10 Dec 2011, 12:21 pm
HG hahah, you vain person
Sky HD, don’t forget the HD
Right now my turn to be vain, I am recording it on my 1T Sky HD, pity they are not showing it on 3D
10 Dec 2011, 12:21 pm
@Heavens Game-11: Its on Sky Sports HD 3
10 Dec 2011, 12:22 pm
HG, not true about the Fri and Sat games
London and Edinburgh sevens are both on Sat and So
10 Dec 2011, 12:23 pm
@JL1-15: Hahaha, no… It is the channel… Thought it was only on HD, but I see its on Sky Sports 3 too
10 Dec 2011, 12:25 pm
@JL1-17: The last couple of tournaments were on Fri, Sat I think. But I agree, if they can do it on Sat and Sun then that’s what they should do…
10 Dec 2011, 12:25 pm
Boxing day at Twickers, the estimate 80000 people for that game
10 Dec 2011, 12:27 pm
not the fault of the organisers…
outeniqua park in george holds 10 000 people, for yesterday 11 000 tickets were sold by wednesday.
the gold coast skilled stadium holds 27 500 & for today PE has already sold 35 000 tickets.
we’re doing well i reckon. the weather was terrible gister, gusty, cold south easter was vicious. today is a jol though
leaving for the cauldron in 30 min
10 Dec 2011, 12:27 pm
@JL1-20: Will be festive… You’re going? Did you go to BaaBaas this year…?
10 Dec 2011, 12:29 pm
@Transformation-21: Transie, its looking much better than George – even of the little I saw yesterday. Today its still early and the stadium looks at least half to 3/4 full on TV… Looking good. Just need to sort the commentators out – dull as fck.
10 Dec 2011, 12:31 pm
No Baabaas, but planning to go for the Boxing day game
Transie, give us a full report, these Keo Journos seem stuck in the Dros
10 Dec 2011, 12:33 pm
@Transformation-21:
Have a great day Transie.
Oke Dokies will murder France by 14+ in the QF,
After that, anything can happen.
10 Dec 2011, 12:34 pm
Two little white piggies sitting faaaaar away having a go at coloureds.
Who needs ‘em.
Stay there.
10 Dec 2011, 12:37 pm
@Dawn-26: Who’s having a go at “coloureds”, hey?
10 Dec 2011, 12:42 pm
Cup QF Winners: Samoa, SA, Old Blighty, Aotearoa.
Cup SF Winners: SA, NZ,
Final…………………………Yeah right.
8)
10 Dec 2011, 12:46 pm
I wonder.
10 Dec 2011, 12:48 pm
@JL1-24: will try JL the draught allowing…had the sweetest draught i’ve tasted in ages @ the stadium yesterday
@cane-25: thanks caner. the all blacks sevens had a store signing @ mall during the week & were well received, forbes being the cult hero for obvious reasons.
10 Dec 2011, 12:51 pm
@Transformation-30:
Blitzboks looking very very good Transie.
Home Crowd could take them all the way.
Should be awesome.
10 Dec 2011, 13:01 pm
yeah cane: crowd was raucous everytime homeboy cecil afrika touched the ball, awesome.
Can’t take france lightly though they upset us in dubai, will have to put them away quickly.
10 Dec 2011, 13:01 pm
Heartbreaking for Wales but Samoa put in a couple of crunching tackles at the end.
10 Dec 2011, 13:02 pm
@Transformation-32:
Cecil Afrika eats frogs legs.
Enjoy the day transie.
10 Dec 2011, 13:03 pm
HG: that Mark Richards boy looks like an excitement machine…good young sharky
10 Dec 2011, 13:07 pm
@Dawn-29: Is that so…? Two people were commenting including myself… In other words your little cowardly statement is directed at both of us…You have called me a pig and you have accused me of having a go at coloureds which is quite baseless – I was having a go at Saffa All Black supporters – the fact that their demographic is 100% cullart, does not mean that I was having a go at coloureds… So you can fck off little missy.
10 Dec 2011, 13:08 pm
@Transformation-35: Apparently so. Will watch him closely today. Fck, France score.
10 Dec 2011, 13:09 pm
Since when do rugby players wear alice bands.
10 Dec 2011, 13:11 pm
YES. Blitzboks score
10 Dec 2011, 13:11 pm
@IAAS-38: When they are French…
10 Dec 2011, 13:12 pm
AFRIKA… What a TRYYYYYYYYYYYY!
10 Dec 2011, 13:13 pm
What a handoff before scoring for Cecil Africa
10 Dec 2011, 13:13 pm
@Heavens Game-36:
The Little White Pig Strikes Back.
Come on HG show some decorum.
10 Dec 2011, 13:14 pm
Dammit. France score. Jeez this game is a bit frenetic
10 Dec 2011, 13:14 pm
uh-oh
10 Dec 2011, 13:15 pm
@cane-43: Whats good for the gander is good for the goose. Who are you now to put your tuppence?
10 Dec 2011, 13:17 pm
Oh my hat. Afrika is farken good. Another try! Turned the Frenchie inside out.
10 Dec 2011, 13:18 pm
AFRIKA bamboozles frenchie. Great stepping.
10 Dec 2011, 13:18 pm
Yes. Another try.
10 Dec 2011, 13:18 pm
Don’t worry Okes.
This is only France.
You will prevail.
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