All Blacks spoil Boks' PE party
New Zealand have beaten hosts South Africa in dramatic fashion with the final play of the match to win the Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa Sevens, round three of the Sevens World Series.
The reigning Series champions won a thrilling final 31-26 in front of almost 30,000 fans to claim the first South Africa Sevens title to be played at a new home in Port Elizabeth.
Twice New Zealand led in the first half through captain DJ Forbes and scrumhalf Tomasi Cama, and twice the Boks hit back through Bernardo Botha, but Frank Halai’s long-range run-in nudged the reigning Series champions into a 17-14 half time lead.
After the break the hosts built a lead with tries from Steven Hunt and Cecil Afrika, but Halai again answered for the kiwis to cut the deficit to two points and with the final play of the match New Zealand kicked a loose ball upfield to create a match-winning score for Tomasi Cama.
Samoa finished third in the tournament after beating England 17-14 whilst Wales won the Plate, Scotland lifted Bowl and Zimbabwe beat Kenya to the Shield.
Cup:
Branco du Preez and Bernado Botha ensured South Africa reached the final on home soil after a 12-7 victory against 2009/10 Series champions Samoa where they will play New Zealand.
Gordon Tietjens’ side deated last week’s Dubai Sevens cup winners England 19-14 as Tim Mikkelson scored the decisive try after a chip through from playmaker Tomasi Cama.
Earlier, Cecil Afrika struck twice for Paul Treu’s side in a 26-12 victory, reversing the defeat they suffered at the hands of France in last week’s Cup quarterfinals.
Terry Bouhraoua became the first player to score against South Africa this weekend, but it wasn’t enough to stop the hosts from reaching the Cup semifinals.
The defending Series and SA Sevens champions defeated Australia in their quarterfinal, reversing a defeat at the hands of their rivals in the Dubai Sevens Plate semifinals. Joe Webber, Frank Halai and Toby Arnold all scored in the 21-5 victory.
The 2011 Dubai Cup champions England beat Gold Coast Sevens Cup winners Fiji in the third quarterfinal 21-14. James Rodwell, Dan Norton and Mat Turner all scored for Ben Ryan’s side who now face New Zealand.
Samoa were the first side to book their place in the Cup semi-finals after a victory against reigning RWC Sevens champions Wales. Uale Mai, Levi Asifa’amatala and Tom Iosefo all scored for the 2009/10 Series champions.
Final:
South Africa 26-31 New Zealand
Third/Fourth playoff:
Samoa 17-14 England
Semifinals:
Samoa 7-12 South Africa
England 14-19 New Zealand
Quarterfinal Results:
Samoa 21-12 Wales
South Africa 26-12 France
Fiji 14-21 England
New Zealand 21-5 Australia
Plate:
Reigning RWC Sevens champions Wales proved too strong for Fiji in the Plate final, ending the tournament with an impressive 48-0 win against the Gold Coast Sevens Cup winners.
Owen B Williams scored two of their eight tries in the final, as Paul John’s side claimed 13 Series points in what was Fiji’s second biggest loss in the history of the World Series.
Wales entered the Plate final after an enthralling semifinal against France. Having trailed 12-0 Williams, Tom Habberfield and Richard Smith gave Wales a 19-17 lead before a Terry Bouhraoua penalty looked to have sealed a 20-19 win for France. But Habberfield scored with the last play of the match to clinch a 24-19 win.
Fiji reached the final after two Nikola Matawalu tries helped the Gold Coast Sevens winners to a 26-7 victory against Australia.
Results:
Final:
Wales 48-0 Fiji
Semifinals:
Wales 24-20 France
Fiji 26-7 Australia
Bowl:
Scotland won their second successive Bowl final, beating Pan American Games champions Canada 22-19 thanks to two tries from Peter Horne.
It was in fact there fifth successive Bowl final, and they collect eight points for the Series.
Graham Shiel’s side reached their fifth successive Bowl final after beating Argentina 21-14 thanks to a try Kerr Gossman after the buzzer had sounded.
Canada reached the final having beaten rivals USA 22-12 thanks to two tries from Sean Duke.
Earlier Duke had also scored in their quarterfinal 21-0 victory against Morocco whilst a James Fleming hat-trick helped Scotland to a 26-7 win over Kenya.
Argentina booked their place in the semifinals after a 28-12 victory against Portugal, ensuring Los Pumas are still yet to taste defeat to the European side in 17 matches.
USA progressed to the Bowl semifinals after beating Zimbabwe for the second week running in the Bowl quarterfinals. Peter Tiberio scored the first try of the day before Mark Bokhoven and Tiberio and Zach Test sealed a 26-0 win for Al Caravelli’s side.
Final:
Canada 19-22 Scotland
Semifinals:
United States 12-22 Canada
Argentina 14-21 Scotland
Quarterfinal results:
Scotland 26-7 Kenya
Portugal 12-28 Argentina
Canada 21-0 Morocco
United States 26-0 Zimbabwe
Shield:
Two tries from Wensley Mbanje helped Zimbabwe beat African neighbours Kenya 19-12 to lift the Shield and claim three Series points in the process.
Tangai Nemadire, Manasah Sita and Mbanje all crossed for Zimbabwe as they beat Morocco 21-14 in the first Shield semifinal whilst Patrice Agunda snatched a 17-12 victory for Kenya against Portugal in sudden death extra time.
Final:
Zimbabwe 19-12 Kenya
Semifinals:
Zimbabwe 21-14 Morocco
Portugal 12-17 Kenya
