S.africa extend dominance with Dubai 7s triumph, Australia win women’s title
Shilton van Wyk crossed for two tries as South Africa beat Ireland 21-5 to win the second leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai on Saturday while Australia claimed the women’s title.
With qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games resting on this season’s standings, stakes are high and so it showed on the second day in the UAE with some more high-quality sevens.
South Africa are winners of five of the last six tournaments in Dubai, including twice last season when events were played on back-toback weekends as organisers juggled with the post-pandemic travel issues.
“I am very proud of the boys, I think the camp coming into this one was different and we really stuck together as a group and today and the weekend has shown how much we have fought for each other,” said Blitzboks captain Soyizwapi.
The Blitzboks saw off Samoa 24-19 in the quarters before running out 26-19 victors over New Zealand in the semis.
Ireland beat Argentina 19-14 before edging the United States — who beat Hong Kong winners Australia in their quarter — 12-7 for their place in the final. Two tries from Van Wyk and another by Siviwe Soyizwapi, all converted by Ricardo James Duartee, handed the Boks a healthy 21-0 half-time lead over the Irish.
Jack Kelly pulled a try back for Ireland early in the second period, but they couldn’t get any closer to South Africa.
South Africa were beaten by Britain in their opening match on day one and had to come from behind in the quarter-final and semi-final, having let it late to qualify for the Cup knockout stages in the first place, before taking centre stage in front of a full house at The Sevens Stadium.
However, the final against Ireland was a much more comfortable affair, the Blitzboks easing to a 21-5 win ater scoring three converted tries before the break.
An Ireland comeback never really materialised due to South Africa’s vaster experience at this level and astute game management and Kelly’s try on 11 minutes was scant consolation.
The women’s competition was won by Australia, who saw off New Zealand 26-19 in the final.
Sharni Williams, Faith Nathan, Maddison Levi and Demi Hayes all crossed for tries with Madison Ashby running the show.
The Kiwis hit back with a Michaela Blyde hat-trick but it proved to be too litle, too late under floodlights at The Sevens Stadium.
For Australia’s women, the Dubai tournament saw a continuation of the form that took them