Blitzboks still on top
SA lead Fiji by eight points despite losses in Vancouver
DESPITE their third-place finish in Vancouver on Sunday – the sixth leg of the 2017-18 HSBC World Sevens Series – the Blitzboks are still clinging to the top of the overall standings. Olympic champions Fiji have closed the gap on South Africa to eight points with four rounds of the series to play after winning in Vancouver‚ but Neil Powell’s team proved their fighting qualities.
The Blitzboks were ousted by Fiji (15-12) in the Vancouver semis but rallied to thrash the US – winners in Las Vegas the previous week – 29-7 to take the bronze medal. South Africa were fourth in Vegas.
Although Powell has set the target of reaching the finals in both Las Vegas and Vancouver‚ it was always a lofty ambition considering that his side went to North America without six seasoned veterans.
They also lost the experienced Werner Kok on day one in Nevada and Ruhan Nel on the first day in British Columbia.
That they reached the semis both weekends showed that there is depth in the SA Sevens programme, and confidence within the squad.
In Vancouver‚ the Blitzboks beat Russia (38-7) and Scotland (21-0) in Pool play to secure a quarterfinal berth. They lost their final Pool match 33-14 against New Zealand‚ which meant a last-eight clash against Australia.
The Wallabies ran into a 19-0 lead at half time and the game looked up for the Blitzboks. But the Blitzboks rallied with four tries and a masterclass in suffocating pressure‚ to win 24-19.
Losing to Fiji by the narrowest of margins was a tough blow‚ but again the Blitzboks picked themselves up, finishing third. Fiji beat Kenya 31-12 to take the title.
The Blitzboks arrived in Vancouver with a 10point advantage over New Zealand at the top of the standings and now lead Fiji by eight points.
South Africa has 109 points‚ followed by Fiji (101)‚ New Zealand (92) and Australia (84).
The remaining tournaments are in Hong Kong‚ Singapore‚ London and Paris.
Overall‚ South Africa lead the series in tackles made thus far (744) and lead the try-scoring stakes‚ with 148 tries‚ with Australia (139) and Fiji (137) next. – TimesLIVE