Blitzboks go top in Dubai

The Blitzboks showed some familiar champions pedigree last evening as they orchestrated a superb 19-14 comeback victory over England, ensuring they top Pool D of the Dubai Sevens.

Following a routine 33-5 victory over Spain earlier in the day, Neil Powell’s ensured a safe passage to the Cup knockouts, where they’ll face Argentina in the quarterfinals.

The first three minutes were typically gritty, before England livewire Ollie Lindsay-Hague started to stamp his authority on the attack.

That momentum put the Blitzboks defence under pressure, eventually leading to Ruhan Nel’s sin-binning for a deliberate knockdown. His absence proved costly as the English scored twice within that two-minute window.

Lindsay-Hague exploited the blinside from a breakdown to run in untouched, before Ryan Oosthuizen, under pressure from the evergeen Phil Burgess, knocked on his receipt of the next kickoff.

England kept possession and Dan Norton weaved his way past four defenders.

Powell then decided to roll the dice and brought on Selvyn Davids. It proved inspired.

The 25-year-old, one of the less experienced members of the side, showcased all the experience he gained from last season’s transitional campaign to mastermind the fightback.

Davids was the man who set up Oosthuizen for SA’s first try on the half-time hooter, the latter doing brilliantly to stay in touch in the right corner.

The Blitzboks were frustrated at turnaround when Justin Geduld knocked on with an open tryline in front of him, but the referee strangely ruled the ball went sideways.

That slice of luck – it was a South African scrum – proved crucial, as Geduld atoned by rounding off the move, with Davids once again the creator.

Geduld then exploited a high tackle to score the Blitzboks’ clincher.