BLITZBOKS CLINCH HSBC LAS VEGAS TITLE

Blitzboks with HSBC Sevens title

The Blitzboks clinched their fourth title in five tournaments of the HSBC World rugby series with a 19-12 victory over Fiji in the final played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

Fiji scored first after four minutes of the final, but a converted try by Cecil Afrika had the Blitzboks back in the lead at the break.

Leading tackler in the series, Chris Dry, should his versatility with a try early in the second half to put South Africa 14-5 ahead, before Specman ran more than 50 meters to score the decisive try. Fiji did score again, but that was too late to stop the Blitzboks earning a fourth tournament this year.

Blitzboks currently lead the overall HSBC World rugby sevens rankings with 107 points, 24 points ahead of beaten finalists, Fiji, who has 83 point. England occupies the third place with 81 points.

Blitzboks coach, Neil Powell praised the team’s ability to come back when the chips were down.

“I am very pleased with the result, even though it was not the most clinical performance from our side, but we got the win. I would rather win ugly than to lose pretty,” Powell said after the match.

 The Blitzbokke travelled to North America without the services of the 2016 IRB player of the year, Seabelo Senatla, and kwagga Smith who are both involved in Super Rugby competition.

According to Powell, the absence of these two players showed the squad’s depth, and fighting spirit.

“I thought Siviwe Soyizwapi and Dylan Sage did very well in taking the roles of the absence stalwarts.  We are pretty blessed with our depth in the squad. It is good for the players also to realise that the structure is a sound one and as long as they look after it, the better the structure will look after them,” Powell explained.

The team’s next tour takes them to Vancouver sevens where the Blitzboks will face Chile, Kenya and England in Pool A.