BlitzBoks level with Fiji after storming to Vancouver title
DAY TWO WRAP: The Springbok Sevens claimed a third HSBC SVNS title of the 2026 season by outplaying Spain 38-12 at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday, a win that closed the series lead held by Fiji to just a points’ differential.
South Africa and Fiji are both on 86 log points with one tournament left in the regular season, to be played in New York next weekend.
The Fijians are still top of the standings though, as they have a +201 points’ differential, compared to the Blitzboks’ +199, and they are the only two teams that can claim the overall series in the USA.
The Springbok Sevens side qualified for the final by beating Australia 19-12 in their semifinal, while Spain’s 24-17 win over Fiji in the other top four match saw them progress to the final.
However, they ran into a BlitzBok blitzkrieg as the South Africans jumped into a 17-0 lead against Spain.
Ryan Oosthuizen scored after a quick tap penalty put him in possession 50m out, and like in the Perth final last month, he grabbed the opening try of the match.
The BlitzBoks’ defensive alignment caused all sorts of problems for Spain, who panicked and tried elaborate passing to release pressure. Twice, though, that resulted in turnovers, and Sebastiaan Jobb and Shilton van Wyk scored for a 17-0 lead at the break.
Jobb ran onto a pinpoint pass from Tristan Leyds, and Van Wyk chased down a Leyds grubber as South Africa stole a Spain line-out throw. Leyds was named Player of the Final for his exploits.
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The second half delivered another masterclass from Impi Visser and his men. Van Wyk scored shortly after the restart as Spain were again pinged in their half and conceded possession.
They finally broke their deadlock when Jeremy Trevithick outpaced the tiring SA defence. From the restart, though, Gino Cupido ran onto a Jobb pass to score, and the successful conversion all but confirmed the result.
Spain added a second five-pointer before the final try was fittingly scored by Visser, who intercepted another stray Spain pass, with the BlitzBok captain running 50m to deliver the final blow.
Earlier on the second day, the BlitzBoks outplayed Australia in their semifinal, coming from behind to win 19-12.
Ronald Brown opened the scoring after a good switch move with Oosthuizen left the Aussie defence flatfooted.
Brown then executed a try-saving tackle as well, but that did not stop the Aussies from scoring twice in short succession to take a 12-7 lead into the break. At this stage, Australia targeted the breakdown to dominate possession.
The second half saw a change in fortunes as the Blitzbok bench made the necessary impact to secure possession. David Brits scored in the corner after a determined run down the touchline, and a delightful conversion by Tristan Leyds edged South Africa ahead 14-12.
A turnover by Visser in his own half then delivered the knock-out punch. The ball was recycled, and Selvyn Davids dotted down on the opposite side to put South Africa 19-12 ahead.
With the clock in the red, Australia had one more sortie into the SA half, but a handling error resulted in the Blitzboks earning a consecutive win over Australia, the same team they beat in Perth last month, as they marched towards the title.
The scores and scorers:
Semifinal:
South Africa 19-12 Australia
For South Africa:
Tries: Ronald Brown, David Brits, Selvyn Davids
Cons: Brown, Tristan Leyds
For Australia:
Tries: Aden Ekanayake 2.
Con: Dietrich Roache
South Africa 38 -12 Spain
Final:
For South Africa:
Tries: Ryan Oosthuizen, Sebastiaan Jobb, Shilton van Wyk 2, Gino Cupido, Impi Visser
Cons: Ronald Brown 2, Dewald Human 2
For Spain:
Tries: Jeremy Trevithick, Anton Legorburu Anso
Con: Juan Martinez
Day Two results:
Men’s
Fifth-place semifinals
New Zealand 21-24 Argentina
France 21-19 Great Britain
Cup semifinals
South Africa 19-12 Australia
Fiji 17-24 Spain
Seventh-place play-off:
New Zealand 29-5 Great Britain
Fifth-place play-off:
Argentina 34-15 France
Third-place play-off:
Australia 10-29 Fiji
Final:
South Africa 38-12 Spain
Women’s
Fifth-place semifinal
Japan 12-19 Canada
Fiji 32-0 Great Britain
Cup semifinals
New Zealand 19-12 USA
Australia 14-5 France
Seventh-place play-off:
Japan 34-19 Great Britain
Fifth-place play-off:
Canada 26-19 Fiji
Third-place play-off:
USA 35-21 France
Final:
New Zealand 24-17 Australia
