Blitzboks fall at last hurdle

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

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 25 » Show All

  • 201.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 17:55 pm

    Yeesh final is at 19h40

    PE saders off to get a few more drinks, what what!

  • 202.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 17:55 pm

    I would be seriously hacked off if I paid my money for a seat and was sat behind a group of dronkie foul mouth antagonistic Stormersaders.

  • 203.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 17:56 pm

    Why oh why do they play Kurt Derren songs in the stadium …. when Kenya is playing the Zimbos.

  • 204.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 17:56 pm

    @Dawn-201: Lol… You full of it today, ne?

  • 205.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 17:57 pm

    @Heavens Game-197:
    lol

    Not really, just intoxicated by this beautiful music. :wink:

    @Dawn-198:
    What’s wrong with SABC 3?

  • 206.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 17:58 pm

    @Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-203:

    Tac requested whether he could take his own CD collection into the stadium. :D

  • 207.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:00 pm

    OooOoo!

    Nasty!

  • 208.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:01 pm

    Ag spooner let them be!

    They having a good time after a whole year of fixing your fancy cars!

  • 209.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:04 pm

    And you know you whities are so persnickety over your Defenders and Discoverys.

  • 210.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:05 pm

    @IAAS-206: Hehehe… Kurt Darren’s greatest hits…

  • 211.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:07 pm

    You all leave Tac alone.

  • 212.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:08 pm

    This game is kwaai!

  • 213.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 18:28 pm

    @IAAS-206:
    Hahaha. That was funny.

  • 214.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:32 pm

    Jeez but i detest the filthy Samoa and Fiji teams, would support any other team in the world against them.

  • 215.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:36 pm

    Ol Cecil has got 2 be rated one of the top 3 7s players in the world.

  • 216.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:39 pm

    Come on boys

  • 217.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:40 pm

    @Treehugger-215: He is 7s player of the year actually

  • 218.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:40 pm

    And now for the main event.

    Go boys. Silence the stormersaders.

  • 219.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:41 pm

    @Treehugger-215:

    Hey Hugs, I read something really interesting about about se x and the guppy!

    ***-and-the-guppy-1.1196059" rel="nofollow">http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/***-and-the-guppy-1.1196059

  • 220.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:42 pm

    *** = se x

  • 221.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:42 pm

    fark those CaeSaders make me sick!

  • 222.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:44 pm

    Need the conversion.

  • 223.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:44 pm

    Good kick Du Preez

  • 224.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:45 pm

    RL why you trawl the web for stuff on fornicating guppies.

    Sick puppy.

  • 225.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:45 pm

    Ref saves the day for the sheepshaggers again… Bokkie off

  • 226.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:47 pm

    @Dawn-224:

    I am a Lion …………………………………………………… not a dog !!!

    …………… get it :twisted:

  • 227.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:47 pm

    How does a try scored when the ref says don’t touch at the ruck… the ball then gets touched by Kiwi, forward, and try scored…

  • 228.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:49 pm

    Got it! You sick cub!

    All square!

  • 229.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:49 pm

    Good try Blitzbokke… One man down too

  • 230.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:50 pm

    Great farken kick Franco

  • 231.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:51 pm

    That was try!!!! No fair!

  • 232.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:52 pm

    Prinsloo scored!

  • 233.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:52 pm

    what a half that was.

  • 234.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:52 pm

    Shitabrick… From inches over the tryline for the Blitzbokke to try NZ… NZ 3 ahead… Ref has tried his hardest for the cheats

  • 235.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:53 pm

    oh my goodness.

    This is helter skelter stuff.

  • 236.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:53 pm

    @Dawn-232: Watchoo talking about… Thought you supporting the cheats in Black

  • 237.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:54 pm

    What do the local folk in the crowd who cheer on NZ have against South Africa? Are they racist against their own kind? :?

  • 238.posts: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:54 pm

    Another Bryce Lawrence ref paid by Paddy O’Brainless

  • 239.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:55 pm

    HG you don’t know me do ya.

    I am here to bait you.

  • 240.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:56 pm

    Try to SA….

  • 241.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:56 pm

    HUNT scores!!! Go boy. Dont freeze now Blitzies

  • 242.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:57 pm

    For this, I was brought to this blog.

  • 243.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:57 pm

    Yes yes yes

  • 244.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:58 pm

    That’s right, shut the racists up!

  • 245.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:58 pm

    YaAaaAy!

  • 246.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:58 pm

    219@….Pussycat…. :lol: ja its tuff being a guppy :mrgreen:

  • 247.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:59 pm

    AFRIKA!!!!!!!!!!

    TRYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

  • 248.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 19:59 pm

    Spooner chill! Moeilik!

  • 249.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 20:00 pm

    One more Blitzies… just to shove it up the Stormersaders

  • 250.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Dec 2011, 20:00 pm

    Cecil you biscuit

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