SPORTMATTERS • RACING • SOCCER 26 & 28 • GOLF • CRICKET CLASSY BLITZBOKS BREEZE THROUGH
IN AN eventful match yesterday, Neil Powell’s Springbok Sevens side overcame Australia 29-7 to continue their winning ways and end day one undefeated. Just like in Dubai last week.
There were ups and downs for both sides in the last match of the day; the BlitzBoks punished the Aussies for their ill-discipline, while the South Africans also produced a few sketchy passes when under pressure.
The defending Cape Town champions were also lucky to not get a yellow card after a no-arm tackle by Werner Kok early in the game, but moments of individual brilliance had the BlitzBoks forgiven for their few errors.
Kok delivered one of those moments when he made a jaw-dropping break in his own half and dodged and sprinted past a number of defenders, but he was stopped a few metres from the try line.
Kyle Brown got the real deal shortly afterwards when he produced a brilliant running line to score the Boks’ first of five tries (7-0).
And as half time struck, Cecil Afrika increased his impressive points record when he deceived the Aussie defenders with quick feet to get the BlitzBoks’ second try (12-0).
Skipper Philip Snyman got the scoreboard moving when he received an outside pass from Afrika to get another try just before half time (17-0).
Captain Snyman lead by example and went over for another one as soon as the second half kicked off, and Australia got their first one of the match when Sam Myles sneaked through to score (24-7).
But the BlitzBoks didn’t stop there. Ruhan Nel delivered the nail in the Australians coffin after a superb run down left touch to call the game (29-7).
Earlier against the USA in the BlitzBoks’ second outing on the day, they didn’t enjoy the perfect start they did against Russia, but they managed to pull it together in fine style to walk away with a 28-10 victory.
The Americans looked dangerous early on and pinned the South Africans in their red zone for a short while, and it paid off as they gave the first blow to take the early lead.
The BlitzBoks regrouped, however, and again resembled the team that reigned in Dubai.
The USA struck first when pacey Maka Unufe greeted the whitewash after being beautifully put into space by his team mates. But the BlitzBoks responded with four tries to beat the Americans (28-10).
In their first match of the day the Springbok Sevens players made good on their promise of starting over in the much-anticipated Cape Town tournament, and they did so in scintillating style to crush a hapless Russia side 41-0.
The BlitzBoks absolutely dominated the Russians with solid work on attack, defence and in the physicality department.
And they showed exactly why they were undefeated in the Arabian desert. New Zealand v Kenya: 12.26 Scotland v USA: 12.48 England v Fiji: 1.10 pm