Blitzboks rebound with 34-0 win over Great Britain after Dubai 7s disappointment
After Pool A defeats at the Emirates Dubai 7s, the Blitzboks, captained by Impi Visser, regrouped to beat Great Britain 34-0 in the fifth-place semi-final, showcasing resilience and strong finishing form in the HSBC SVNS opener.
Image: AFP
THE SPRINGBOK Sevens team’s love affair with the Emirates Dubai 7s hit another stumbling block after the 11-time champions crashed out of the main play-offs for a second consecutive year following Pool A defeats to Fiji and Argentina in the HSBC SVNS opener on Saturday.
The Blitzboks had started brightly, defeating France 15-12 in their opener, but successive losses to Fiji (28-10) and Argentina (19-14) left them as also-rans under the new tournament format.
However, the team showed resilience on Sunday, facing Great Britain in the fifth-place semi-final with renewed focus. The Blitzboks produced a commanding performance, blowing the Brits off the park to win 34-0.
Five tries by Zander Reynders, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, and Donavan Don, along with two conversions – one by Ronald Brown and one by Leyds – underscored their dominance and ability to reset after a tough Saturday.
Saturday had been a mixed day for the Blitzboks. Pool A was tightly contested, with France, South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina each recording wins in their three matches. The Blitzboks knew they needed a strong showing against Argentina to progress, but fell short.
Being 12-0 down at the break was not the start they wanted, though they clawed back to lead in the second half with two tries. Ultimately, defensive lapses cost them, as conceding nine tries across three matches made semi-final qualification impossible, despite scoring seven themselves and converting only two.
The opening win over France offered hope. After a strong defensive set rep, Ryan Oosthuizen ran 70m to score the opening try. Donavan Don then crossed after a clever kick from Selvyn Davids, and Christie Grobbelaar extended the lead in the second half. France threatened with a late try, but the Blitzboks held on to secure the victory.
Against Fiji, South Africa initially took the lead through Ronald Brown, but the Fijians’ physicality and precision dominated the rest of the match. Despite late efforts from Tristan Leyds, the Blitzboks went down 28-10, showing that their defence would need significant improvement to compete at the top level.
Sunday’s emphatic victory over Great Britain offered a strong finish to a challenging weekend, showcasing the Blitzboks’ ability to regroup and deliver under pressure.