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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12 Dec 2011, 10:49 am
@Hurricane-850: Let us know. We’ll skype in
12 Dec 2011, 10:51 am
@stormersboy-851:
lol
12 Dec 2011, 10:53 am
If you guys are interested to see what Tom Morello can do check this clip of him playing with the great Springsteen. He only really start to rip at about 7.00 but the whole song is brilliant imo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OLFLrTnue9s
12 Dec 2011, 10:59 am
@Robzim-853: howdy.
how did your dive go?
12 Dec 2011, 11:09 am
@rangerman-854:
Howzit Ranger,
I decided to rather give it a skip on Sunday – blokes are taking out more then they are allowed to and I do not really like to be part of that- have taken out my license though and will do some dives over the next few weeks.
I also read a guy drowned while diving for RL at Soetwater this weekend- interesting that ET was talking about Soetwater RL on Sat night, lol.
Here are many “cowboys” taking to the water these days- no training and just about zero experience – not saying the bloke who drowned was one of those – but if you look at some of them its only a miracle that we do not get more drownings.
And on your side? – still spearfishing using the kayak as dive- platform?
12 Dec 2011, 11:09 am
@Hurricane-777: Great stuff mate. Enjoyed that plenty. Respect.
Looks really scenic where you live. Nice place. Makes me want to visit NZ.
12 Dec 2011, 11:18 am
@Hurricane-846:
Haha. No worries, I’m more like abstract art.
Clip just reminded me of my ex-girlfriend and the “naughty” vids she’d occasionally grace me with – not the face, not the face!
Hmmmm… too much information?
12 Dec 2011, 11:26 am
@Robzim-855: howziiiit!
ja look, i have no respect for guys who take more than their quota. zero.
i belong to a club and we are pretty strict about the rules and regs. also pretty cool as i am getting to dive with guys who have a lot more experience than myself and so the learning curve is far more rapid.
thankfully the bug season is over here, allows me to concentrate on the spearfishing which is about as addictive a sport as i have ever known. hell, i am turning into a fitness freak just so i can extend my bottom time lol.
Got a few very nice bronze bream this weekend (all in the 3-4 kg mark) and a very nice bludged (fulvie) kingie too. dont really normally target the reefies but the viz didnt allow us to targe the pelagics unfortunately.
Just came back from blackrock (kosi bay area) two weeks ago. LoL we got taxed of our bludgers and kakaap by the biggest tiger i have ever seen. he towed my two mates around the ocean like they were matchsticks.
it was awesome!
i wanna dive for tuna in the cape now, thats on my bucket list.
12 Dec 2011, 11:27 am
@Robzim-855: p.s. i dont dive with those cowboys, spearguns are frikken lethal!
12 Dec 2011, 11:28 am
@cane-849:
glad to see your boys shut those brash aussies up good and proper today.
first time in 18 years i believe.
well done to them.
12 Dec 2011, 11:50 am
@rangerman-858:
Sounds awesome.
Spearfishing tuna in the Cape waters has become quite popular but it is fairly extreme- they target yellow fin and longfin mainly i think.
It will be better to go with a professional charterer
Check out www dot twooceanssportfishing dot com – the bloke to speak to is Dave.
My background is mainly squba- as far as snorkelling is concerned I only did some spearfishing previously and nowadays only dive for rock lobster- i have huge respect for blokes like Tommy Botha etc…though – more fish than human holding their breath what seems like for ever, lol.
12 Dec 2011, 11:51 am
Jeeezz finally im able to log on.Havent been able to for a few days.Site refusing my registration status….
Pity about Blitzboks,they had been outstanding leading up to final..NZ though have an impressive record on SA soil and came through at the end..
Cecil Afrika is a superstar,he was the difference from last few weeks especially in French Quarter Final…Finest 7′s player in the game
Had Sa had the likes of Sithole,Mthembu,Mbovane….would have been a different story.Like the look of Cornal Hendricks..The Boland flyer & record breaking 1st CC Division try scorer was impressive.Powerful in tackle.
12 Dec 2011, 12:06 pm
@mshiniwami-862: It will be good to know how many other posters have had this problem. I think that Keo has been experimenting with new exclusion software.
12 Dec 2011, 12:10 pm
Hey All…
Not to hijack the thread… but with regard to last night’s chats and Hurricane’s brilliant playing…
Yesterday was the anniversary of Jinx laying down his guitar…!
Not to be maudlin or sad… but just as a reminder…
Drink a toast to celebrate his life and how much he would have enjoyed this thread. His family have asked us all to remember and celebrate him…
Is there ever such a thing as coincidence…? Or was Jinx part of the action last night…?
Miss you Jinx…
12 Dec 2011, 12:12 pm
@youknowwho-863:
Hmmm…..
I found it very strange myself..Especially as I was coming hard at perenial Keo favourite John Mitchell…
I wonder….
12 Dec 2011, 12:12 pm
@youknowwho-863: Me too
And here I thought I was banned for my continuous insult hurling at everybody’s buddy…. Hurricane.
Now where is that twat gunther…. and katman…
lemme at them!
12 Dec 2011, 12:15 pm
Over 300 posts later and I was hoping for a far more mature dabate regarding the raping of South african women.
Surely if police officers (agents of the state) are raping innocent women of the public who are going about their daily lives, South Africa as a country is in serious trouble. I don’t know what the statistical racial bias is (black on white rape vs white on black rape) but regardless, if cricket can support breast cancer why the hell can Rugby not be a powerful light supporting the protection and plight of our mothers, sisters, girlfriends, daughters and wives (no particular order of importance!).
Where there is a will, there is a way. Wake up guys, look around you and get SARU to make it clear that rugby stands for the protection of our women and children, especially where state thugs are involved.
The question is: do the rugby authorities have the guts to do this as it will publicly embarass the ANC government.
12 Dec 2011, 12:16 pm
@rangerman-858:
How do you think the poor wife of that bream is going to tell his children that their dad is not coming home tonight as he unwittingly ended up in the path of rangermans murderous spear???
12 Dec 2011, 12:18 pm
@Bod-866: Based on sample of three I would deduce that it was a general software glitch. I tried to logon after being inactiove for a while when it happened so there was no specific incident bearing in mind that I have a history of being banned
12 Dec 2011, 12:18 pm
@Bod-866: hey Boderick
in 2 weeks the Catalans have shut you up proper…4-0 at Levante and then a sublime come from a goal down 3-1 WIN at the Bernabeu, shutting up every Madrista in sight
how about that Cesc Fabregas that you referred to as a “guardiola mistake”? 10 goals in 13 starts, not bad for a mistake hey
12 Dec 2011, 12:22 pm
@itsamyth-867: Rugby is about selling Malice, violence, brutality and backstabbing… Dont mess with a successful brand. If it aint broke then dont fixit?
12 Dec 2011, 12:28 pm
@youknowwho-869: I’d say that’s a safe supposition to make. If you can log on anyone should be able to.
12 Dec 2011, 12:29 pm
youknowwho – 871: although I disagree with your rugby view, I am heartened that at least you seem to be agreeing with my general sentiments, all be it in a non-comittal round about way.
12 Dec 2011, 12:30 pm
@Upho-864: Thanks for letting us know.
I thought of him last night and thought he’d have loved that discussion.
How’s the family doing?
12 Dec 2011, 12:32 pm
@stormersboy-872:
we can’t ban langers.
he is our quota blogger.
12 Dec 2011, 12:35 pm
@Transformation-870:
Slight glitch for the mighty toppies of Levante…. they are back though! I went down to Saturdays win over Sevilla and their biggest gate of the season…. all 17000!
I am glad that stupid classico is over and this country can start functioning again. Everthing ground to a halt on Friday and Saturday over that fekking game. No wonder this bunch are in such a huge “krisis” as they call it here
The only reason Fabgegas is shining at the moment is that Josep has very quickly understood not to mess with Iniesta (The worlds best footballer) and Xavi (Prat) in the midfield and is playing Fabregas further forward. No lo se what is going to happen when Villa returns though
12 Dec 2011, 12:36 pm
@stormersboy-874:
Yeah bud… and Robzim mentioned him too… The universe is sure saying something when such topics come up on such days…
His family is well… obviously miss him terribly… but celebrating the person he was and the life he lived…
Maybe Jinx2 will drop in with a message…
12 Dec 2011, 12:39 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-875: True. Except of course, from time to time his village start to miss their idiot and we have to send him back there for a while.
12 Dec 2011, 12:43 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-875: Quota blogger or tenacious mthafkker
Banned 5 times and still around.
What is your excuse for being so compliant.. world peace??
12 Dec 2011, 12:47 pm
@stormersboy-878: Calling me an idiot is a bit rich of you.. Is your bank notes still promising you gold??
12 Dec 2011, 12:48 pm
@youknowwho-879:
Dont you worry about these bloggers that are continuously changing their nics??
I mean, for goodness sake….. “The Artist formerly known as guntertjie”
Madre de dios…
12 Dec 2011, 12:48 pm
@youknowwho-879:
@stormersboy-878:
it’s true that langers has been banned more times than Winnie M.
I think he just doesn’t know any better.
He used to be quite rabid but now he is like a dirty uncle who f arts his way through christmas dinner and tries to look up his niece’s skirt.
Unpleasant but tolerable for the sake of harmony
12 Dec 2011, 12:50 pm
@youknowwho-880: Using the word “rich’ and then referring to banknotes in the next sentence is a bit redundant don’t you think?
My banknotes promise me whatever i can purchase for the face value of said banknote. Sometimes a little more, depending on my negotiating skills.
12 Dec 2011, 12:50 pm
@youknowwho-880:
are langers are.
it’s plural.
sheez take a night class or something.
improve yourself.
12 Dec 2011, 12:50 pm
@Bod-881: I have managed to hold on to my nic for a while now.. I have escaped banning for quite a while. Keo has noticed the drop in hits when I logoff. Stats don’t lie
12 Dec 2011, 12:51 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-882: so a paedophile joke from you huh?
hypocrite much…
thought so..
12 Dec 2011, 12:53 pm
@Bod-876: you say Cesc is shining “@ the moment”. the man has been bagging goals since the beginning of the season!
guardiola told exactly where he is going to feature in the team BEFORE the deal was done with Arsenal. Pedro is struggling for form coming back from injury, so Cesc is relatively safe.
i loved the clasico and i can’t imagine how the spanish people feel about it. it is such a dramatic sporting episode!
12 Dec 2011, 12:54 pm
@youknowwho-885: You’ve just become the “compliant” blogger you accused Gunther of being sadly.
You need to sharpen up son.
Your “labour units” are depreciating in value as we speak.
12 Dec 2011, 12:57 pm
@poppa69-886:
shut up you stupid kont.
why does his niece have to be underage?
langers is a ballie.
now fukkoff and go and cry somewhere else you piece of s hit.
12 Dec 2011, 12:59 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-882: Your imagination is a reflection of your own little dirty secrets… stay away from your sisters kids over christmas
@youknowwho-885: P ussy alert… grammar police.. but I do need to improve. Living in England gives me the comfort of knowing that grammar is not that essential. I get asked to write up proposals and contractual positions… because I seemingly have great eloquence.
12 Dec 2011, 13:03 pm
whats the matter grunter?
you got all precious when I suggested that of you, yet you infer langers is one so righteously.
bwahahahahahaha.
true colours shining through small man.
wonderful.
12 Dec 2011, 13:04 pm
@stormersboy-888: I am not compliant.. Keo has grown a brain cell. Banning me is commercially stupid
@the artist formerly known as gunther-884: 890 was entirley aimed at you.. the reply button has been fixed
12 Dec 2011, 13:05 pm
@youknowwho-890:
I have no sisters.
I was raised in the wild by a group of silverbacks.
it’s why I understand you so well.
12 Dec 2011, 13:07 pm
@youknowwho-892: Are too.
Just like the rest of us.
Dancing to Keo’s tune.
12 Dec 2011, 13:09 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-893: I see the problem.. only child.. left to spend his day playing with the an imaginary dog??
12 Dec 2011, 13:09 pm
@poppa69-891:
nope you were talking a bout kids I wasn’t.
Now go away before you have another all fall down and find something else to start crying about.
sniff I’m not really like that sniff
things are tough at home sniff.
like anybody gives a flying toss.
12 Dec 2011, 13:10 pm
gunther
you getting beat up here 6 love
go wash the pink picanto why you still ahead you drama queen
12 Dec 2011, 13:10 pm
More brawling?
12 Dec 2011, 13:12 pm
far more prefer Poppa to the Abba playing Picanto driving queen that is formerly known as Gunthertjie…
12 Dec 2011, 13:13 pm
@stormersboy-894: Am not…
Keo is fking ungrateful.. no thanks from the twat for us helping him lift the coverted beer award for services to free speech
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