Blitzboks are dominant in Sydney as Senatla, Kwagga head to Super Rugby

by

Four tournaments down in the Sevens World Series, six to go. South Africa’s Blitzboks are enjoying their best-ever start to a Sevens World Series season – four finals, three titles and a 17-point margin over their nearest rivals England in the overall standings after the past weekend’s Sydney tournament. They’re also 21 points ahead of the defending champions Fiji, who had a miserable time by their standards at the Allianz Stadium, finishing fifth. But the statistic that says everything about South Africa’s dominance this season is the points difference. South Africa have a points difference of 501. Fiji are next best with 269, followed by England with 197. That shows how convincingly the Blizboks are winning their games compared with their closest rivals. In the 24 games they’ve played this season, they’ve kept a clean sheet 8 times (more than a third of their matches). In Wellington, the opposition managed to score only four tries against the Blitzboks in the whole tournament. The Sevens World Series goes to Las Vegas on 4 March and the South Africans will be without Seabelo Senatla (the top try- and points-scorer in Sydney) and Kwagga Smith who take up their Super Rugby commitments. – David O’Sullivan

From Sport24

The Blitzboks on Sunday won the HSBC Sydney Sevens tournament, beating England 29-14 in the final, played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

This win, their third in the 2016/17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, also extended their lead in the overall series, with the Blitzboks (85) now 17 points in front of England (68), with Fiji (64) and New Zealand (56) further back.

Image courtesy of Twitter @Blitzboks

The victory is also the second in as many weeks, after the Blitzboks bagged the HSBC Wellington Sevens a week ago.

They won the opening tournament of the current series, in Dubai, back in December last year.

England did manage to edge the Blitzboks in their final pool match yesterday, but a very strong first half by South Africa in the final on Sunday laid the foundation for this win, their first at this tournament, but third in Australia (having won in Adelaide twice before).

Philip Snyman, Seabelo Senatla and Justin Geduld all scored first half tries, with Branco du Preez adding two conversions to give South Africa a commanding 19-0 lead at the break.

A second try by Geduld, soon after the restart pushed the South Africans to a 24-0 lead and although Tim Mitchell scored a converted try for England, they were playing catch-up rugby.

Stephan Dippenaar, who joined the playing squad yesterday in place of injured Werner Kok, sealed a memorable couple of days for him with a fine try and at 29-7 the match was out of reach for England.

They did score a last minute try through Dan Norton, but time ran out for England, who won the HSBC Cape Town Sevens tournament in December.

South Africa earlier in the day reached their fourth consecutive final in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series due to wins over the USA in the quarterfinals of the tournament and then knocked out hosts, Australia, in the semifinals.

Against Australia, South Africa’s defence again stood firm, but it was a smooth attacking move in the opening phases that gave them the lead. Kwagga Smith scored the opening try after 19 passes and Branco du Preez’s conversion put them 7-0 up.

This lead was cut by a fine run from Tim Anstee three minutes later, resulting in a try in the corner.

Seabelo Senatla then got his regulation try, his eighth in the tournament just before the break to give South Africa a 12-5 lead.

The second half saw some ill-discipline from Australia, resulting in two yellow cards. South Africa played the numbers and Chris Dry scored, with Justin Geduld converting. A second try by Smith, again converted by Geduld, extended the lead to 26-5 and although Australia scored a converted try at the death, the passage to a fourth final was secured for the Blitzboks.

Earlier in the morning, South Africa had to come from behind to beat the USA 21-5 in their Cup quarterfinal.

Carlin Isles scored early for the USA, but two moments of brilliance from Justin Geduld changed the face of the game. First he ran 70 meters down the blindside to score the Blitzboks opener and then a timely interception near his own line resulted in Chris Dry dotting down under the sticks. Branco du Preez converted both, giving South Africa a 14-5 lead at the break.

The USA scored first in the second half to cut the lead to 14-10, but Rosko Specman’s introduction to play was decisive and he set-up Seabelo Senatla with a try. Justin Geduld kicked the conversion for a 21-10 lead and final score.

Senatla, the leading try-scorer in the series, was for the second week in a row named HSBC Player of the Final.

The winger, who bagged nine tries in Sydney and 32 in the series praised his team mates.

“It is incredible. The guys are just magicians, hats off to them, I am just the finisher of the moves. It is bitter sweet, we play here with family so it is a pity to be leaving the family but it’s a new challenge I am excited for,” said Senatla, who now links up with the DHL Stormers for Vodacom Super Rugby duties. – Sport24

Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Sevens/blitzboks-thrash-england-to-claim-sydney-sevens-20170205

Visited 57 times, 1 visit(s) today

BizNews