The Blitzboks encountered a challenging endeavor during the Perth leg of the HSBC Sevens Series, experiencing a narrow defeat to series leaders, Argentina, in their final Pool A match. Additionally, they came agonizingly close to defeating Fiji in the Cup quarter-finals. Nevertheless, the team secured a place in the fifth-place semi-finals against France and remains resolute in their pursuit to conclude the tournament on a positive note.
In their initial match against Argentina, the Blitzboks made a formidable start, with Quewin Nortje scoring a try following a superb pass from Ryan Oosthuizen. However, the South Americans rallied and managed to score two unanswered tries before adding another one close to the final whistle, ultimately securing a 19-5 victory over the South African side.
The handling errors by the Blitzboks significantly impacted their defeat, frequently disrupting the momentum they had established and providing their opponents with the opportunity to capitalize on their mistakes.
The team encountered further adversity in their match against Fiji when Nortje sustained a leg muscle injury early in the game. Despite this setback, Ryan Oosthuizen’s try and a solid performance from replacement flyhalf Tristan Leyds saw the Blitzboks take the lead. However, a yellow card for James Murphy proved to be a pivotal moment in the match, as the Fijians exploited their numerical advantage to secure a 14-12 victory over the South African side.
Despite the disappointing outcomes, Blitzbok captain Selvyn Davids praised the team’s effort and expressed pride in their determination on the field. Davids acknowledged the challenges they faced, including the impact of the yellow card, but credited Fiji for their determined performance and stressed the importance of effectively maintaining possession of the ball.
Looking forward to the fifth-place semi-final against France, the Blitzboks are focused on delivering a strong performance to conclude the tournament. The team acknowledges the significance of every point in the HSBC Sevens Series and is committed to putting their best foot forward in their upcoming match.
The final results of the matches saw Argentina defeating South Africa 19-5, with tries from Joaquin Pellandini, Rodrigo Isgro, and Marcos Moneta, while South Africa managed a try through Quewin Nortje. In the match against Fiji, South Africa scored tries through Ryan Oosthuizen and Tristan Leyds, while Fiji secured the win with tries from Terio Tamani and Rere Ropate.
As the Blitzboks prepare to face France, they remain dedicated to demonstrating their resilience and determination on the field, aiming to deliver a performance that reflects their unwavering commitment to the sport.