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, 17:13 pm
Opportunity lost for Blitzbokke
10 Dec 2011, 17:15 pm
Another opportunity lost… Not good to try and drop goal for a penalty.
10 Dec 2011, 17:15 pm
ROAR
I am back – no longer banned you Keo pricks! What did I do wrong?
……………………………….. Never mind go pygmy Boks
10 Dec 2011, 17:16 pm
Blitzbokke have frozen a bit. Confidence chaps… Come now
10 Dec 2011, 17:17 pm
Great covering by Hendriks. Well done boy
10 Dec 2011, 17:18 pm
@Heavens Game-89: Take responsibility for having started this one. You opened the door as wide as Turnstile’s defence
10 Dec 2011, 17:18 pm
Well done Blitzies. Congratulations.
Now for the final.
10 Dec 2011, 17:19 pm
Rl no-one was banned man
10 Dec 2011, 17:19 pm
Well done Bokkies. Game won… But don’t freeze up boys… Give it horns in the final, whether against the Poms or the Sheepshaggers
10 Dec 2011, 17:20 pm
Filthy cannibal head hunters got klapped
10 Dec 2011, 17:20 pm
@Heavens Game-155:
The defence of the blitsies is bloody good. That last try was questionable but the game was over by then.
10 Dec 2011, 17:23 pm
@Michael-156: Yeah, as open and honest as a good bombing… An HG carpet bomb… No dumfck bonecleaning archeologist here thankyouverymuch
10 Dec 2011, 17:23 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-160: Ja. One hundred percent right
10 Dec 2011, 17:24 pm
@IAAS-161: They looked good until midway 2nd half where they froze up a bit…
10 Dec 2011, 17:25 pm
The sheepshaggers get 1st blood against the Poms
10 Dec 2011, 17:26 pm
O my vok I see cape coloured crusaders!!!
10 Dec 2011, 17:26 pm
@Dawn-166: Oh jeez, You there in the crowd with your fandamily?
10 Dec 2011, 17:26 pm
They everywhere!
10 Dec 2011, 17:27 pm
Damn
There must be 100 CapeSaders in the stadium right now …… Transie they out number you …… be carefull buddy ……. don’t look for a fight with them.
10 Dec 2011, 17:28 pm
Typical cheats… How are the sheepshaggers allowed to have a sheepshagger ref officiating
10 Dec 2011, 17:28 pm
shiit whenever they score a try the CapeSader seem to grow in numbers …… at least 300 of them now.
10 Dec 2011, 17:29 pm
England get one back… Eish, too little too late I think
10 Dec 2011, 17:29 pm
Go Poms, go Poms ……. knock them out!
10 Dec 2011, 17:29 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-171: Dawn must have a big family, eh?
10 Dec 2011, 17:30 pm
10 Dec 2011, 17:31 pm
Capesaders rule!
10 Dec 2011, 17:31 pm
Fark, some of those PE Motor mechanics need to go introduce themselves to those Stormersading Black clad traitorous scum
10 Dec 2011, 17:32 pm
Shame HG here you were crowing that they were’t in PE!
10 Dec 2011, 17:33 pm
I applaud the Ginger Pom for the UFC choke hold on that sheepshagger… Go boy
10 Dec 2011, 17:33 pm
Yay. Who gonna fix your fancy cars for cheap.
We are.
10 Dec 2011, 17:34 pm
@Dawn-178: I was wrong, obviously… Must be quite a few Dawns and Mpundas in PE too
10 Dec 2011, 17:35 pm
Man, this is funny!
10 Dec 2011, 17:36 pm
England get another one… Convert it chaps and game on… Kiwis getting a bit frustrated… Lovely to see
10 Dec 2011, 17:36 pm
All square! Lekker brawling orange poms!
10 Dec 2011, 17:38 pm
Dammit. Sheepshaggers score…Someone please moer a Caped Crusader… Will pay
10 Dec 2011, 17:38 pm
Yesssss that will shut the CaeSaders up.
Go Poms, one more score ….. pleaseeeee
10 Dec 2011, 17:39 pm
Nooooo
10 Dec 2011, 17:39 pm
Lekker. Crowd booing the Sheepshaggers… Hehehe. I Luv PE
10 Dec 2011, 17:40 pm
So it’s the Bokkies vs the sad sack stormersaders.
Time to kick arse, boys.
10 Dec 2011, 17:41 pm
10 Dec 2011, 17:41 pm
Lekker booing of the Cape Spanish. I hope the Boks stuff the NZders in the final and watch them all reach for the green and gold jerseys and flags hidden in their bags. Scum.
10 Dec 2011, 17:41 pm
Damn these PE saders are lelik.
I must say I am much more beautiful.
10 Dec 2011, 17:41 pm
Chrissakes… Anyone reading this in the Stadium…. Will pay per CapedCrusader PK…. Must be visible on TV though… Please.
10 Dec 2011, 17:43 pm
Whats a poesklapped Stormersader, visible on TV, worth?
10 Dec 2011, 17:44 pm
@IAAS-189: Ja. Jeez the BlitzBokkies better win.
10 Dec 2011, 17:44 pm
The 10 year old Jackie Evancho singing some classical pieces on SABC 3.
The voice of an angel.
Just beautiful.
10 Dec 2011, 17:46 pm
@nama1-196: Lol. WTF you talking about Nama? You pi.ssed already?
10 Dec 2011, 17:48 pm
SABC3?????
10 Dec 2011, 17:49 pm
@Dawn-192: So not as bad as the exhaust pipe… more like the back of the bus… Oh well, at least you’re modest.
10 Dec 2011, 17:51 pm
Habana must be really dik bek ….. he took a huge pay cut to stay at the Stormers for 3 more years …. while Mossie is getting close to a million a month by showing the WP the bird
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