Bok Sevens finish with bronze medal

The Springbok Sevens team surged into the semifinals of the Paris Sevens with a dominant 40-7 win over Samoa in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

The Blitzboks were in a mean mood to start off with, with Justin Geduld scoring twice in the opening half and Branco du Preez and Werner Kok racking up an early 26-0 lead by halftime to see them into the semifinals.

The second half saw tries by Muller du Plessis and Phillip Snyman power them further, before Samoa finally scored at the death to break their duck through Alamanda Motuga.

This set the Blitzboks up for a semifinal showdown with archfoes New Zealand, who had beaten Argentina in their quarterfinal 21-12.

However, New Zealand were much too strong on the day, winning the semifinal 33-7 and South Africa then had to play the US for the bronze medal.

The Blitzboks won that encounter 24-7 to take the bronze medal. –

Picture: AFP/ LUCAS BARIOULET ON THE RUN: South Africa’s Cecil Afrika runs with the ball during the Paris Sevens Series rugby semi final against New Zealand at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris on Sunday.