BlitzBoks blitz Australia to book Perth Sevens final spot
MATCH REPORT: The BlitzBoks saved their best for when it counted, tearing apart Australia 28-12 in a thrilling Perth Sevens semifinal that stunned the home crowd into silence.
South Africa will face Fiji, who thrashed New Zealand 35-0, in the final at 11.04 (SA time).
South Africa’s lethal finishing and incisive counter-attacking punished the hosts for costly errors at crucial moments.
Shilton van Wyk and Sebastiaan Jobb led the charge, combining for three tries as the BlitzBoks clinically capitalised on every Australian lapse.
The win not only booked a mouth-watering place in the final but also underlined South Africa’s status as one of the most feared teams on the HSBC Sevens Series.
South Africa asserted themselves early after Australia’s opening move ended with a knock-on near halfway. Within three minutes, van Wyk had exposed the heart of the defence, slicing through untouched with pace and composure to score a superb solo try and give the Blitzboks a 7-0 lead – a clear warning of what lay ahead.
Australia responded swiftly through Henry Hutchison, whose sharp support play saw him finish in the corner after Wallace Charlie’s incisive break had the Blitzboks scrambling. The conversion narrowed the gap to 7-5, briefly lifting the Perth crowd and hinting at a contest.
What followed proved decisive: a ruthless 14-point swing that crushed Australian momentum.
With the hosts pressing deep inside South Africa’s territory, a crucial knock-on handed possession back to the BlitzBoks. Sebastiaan Jobb pounced, sprinting the length of the field to finish a devastating counter-attack that drained the belief from the Australians.
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That try stretched South Africa’s lead to 14-5 at the break and left the hosts reeling, the outcome suddenly looking inevitable.
Australia opened the second half with renewed intent as Ben Dowling’s trademark show-and-go sliced through the BlitzBoks defence to cut the gap to just two points at 14-12, briefly raising hopes of a comeback.
Those hopes faded soon after when Aden Ekanayake was sin-binned for a reckless aerial challenge, leaving the hosts short-handed at a crucial moment. Shilton van Wyk nearly struck again soon after, chipping ahead following a dangerous break, but the kick ran dead to relieve the pressure.
With the numerical advantage, South Africa took control. Sebastiaan Jobb claimed his second try as the stretched Australian defence struggled to live with the BlitzBoks’ speed, support play and precision, extending the lead to 21-12 and effectively sealing the contest.
Ricardo Duarttee delivered the finishing blow midway through the half, stretching the margin to 28-12 and confirming South Africa’s place in the Perth Sevens final.
South Africa 28-12
The scorers:
Tries: Van Wyk, Jobb 2, Duarttee
Cons: Duarttee 4
