Cape Town 7s: BlitzBoks outplay Argentina in Final
The tournament is the second leg of the World Series, as the abbreviated version of the game builds towards its debut in the Olympic Games in Rio next year.
Fiji, who finished first in Dubai last week and won the Plate in Cape Town, and South Africa (Plate winners last week) are both on 35 points.
The BlitzBoks, who held a slender three-point (17-14) lead at half-time, produce a monumental defensive effort after the break to run out 29-14 winners.
Apart from their defence, discipline was another key aspect of what was a physical and intense Final – the first time the South African leg was held in Cape Town, where more than 106,000 people attended over the two days.
* Fiji restored some lost pride by beating America 29-19 in the Plate Final, while France finished third by beating Kenya 28-26 in a thrilling match – the winning score coming after the full-time hooter..
In the minor competitions Scotland beat England 19-0 to claim the Bowl and Samoa demolished Russia 40-5 to win the Shield.
* Earlier in the Cup semifinals South Africa outplayed France for a 21-12 win. Fancy footwork from Justin Geduld and rock-solid defence were they key factors in the hosts' victory.
The second semifinal produced high drama, as Argentina edged out Kenya 24-22 – a missed conversion after the hooter for full-time allowing the South Americans to sneak through.
The United States won their third-successive game against New Zealand (28-14 in Cape Town) advanced to the Plate Final – where they will meet Fiji, who showed their sublime skills to dismiss Australia 38-19 in the other semifinal.
England will meet near-neighbours Scotland in the Bowl Final, while Russia and Samoa will contest the Shield Final.
* Earlier two of the game's most successful teams, Fiji and New Zealand, were both knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Fiji were upstaged by a willing French team, losing 14-17 – despite going ahead 14-0 early in the first half. It was mostly their own arrogance that cost tem the match.
An injury-ravaged New Zealand put up brave resistance, but after being reduced to six men in extra time – the teams were level 19-all at the end of regulation time – it was a drop-foal from a penalty that Argentina knock the game of Sevens' most successful team out of the Cup section of the tournament.
Hosts South Africa came back from an early score by Australia to run riot – eventually winning 25-5, despite not being able to convert any of their five tries.
In the process BlitzBok flyer Seabelo Senatla became only the 30th player to score 100 Sevens tries.
Kenya, who raced into a commanding 19-0 first-half lead, managed to hold off a comeback from the United States to advance to the semifinals with a 26-10 win.
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Cup Final
South Africa were guilty of a couple of early errors, turning the ball over and giving away a penalties – allowing German Schultz to open the scoring for Argentina.
From the restart – after the South Americans had conceded a free-kick by kicking directly into touch – Justin Geduld worked the ball into space for Rosco Speckman to sprint over.
The BlitzBoks' errors continued, but a turnover and a brilliant chip from Geduld allowed Seabelo Senatla to beat the cover and collect for a great try – 10-7.
Now it was the South Americans' turn to cough up possession, with Speckman stepping his way through the defence from a ruck to stretch the lead to 17-10.
Some sloppy defence and a forward pass missed by the referee allowed Axel Muller to close the gap to 14-17 right on half-time.
From the restart Juan de Jongh ripped the ball from an opponent's grasp, but then lost the ball in a high tackle missed by the referee.
The pressure continued to mount, with both sides showing signs of nerves. But a great grubber from De Jongh allowed Senatla to force and opponent over the Argentinean tryline and win a five-metre scrum. And from the scrum South Africa went wide, where Senatla's pace took him over – 22-14.
A penalty against the South Americans allowed the BlitzBoks to set up a line-out deep inside their opponents' half. However, South Africa were called back as the referee felt he noticed a forward pass.
The Argentineans worked their way up-field, but then conceded a penalty at the breakdown near the BlitzBok 22. Cheslin Kolbe stepped his way through and after a 40-metre sprint offloaded to Ryno Benjamin for the crucial try.
There was time for a restart, but the BlitzBok defence held firm and South Africa won 29-14.
Third-place play-off
Collins Injera opened the scoring for Kenya, despite a sloppy start to their encounter with France. Stephen Parez replied for the French, the European team working the ball through the phases till they found a hole on the left wing. Straight from the restart Pierre Lakafia scored and then Oscar Ouma went over after the Kenyans worked it through the phases – leaving the teams tied at 14-all at half-time.
Jonathan Laugel was yellow carded for kicking the ball away early in the second half and Kenya pounced immediately, Nelson Oyoo scoring the try that gave Kenya the lead. However, Pierre Lakafia used his pace to get over and regain the lead for France – 21-19, with just under two minutes remaining.
Oyoo easily beat some sloppy defence on the left wing and in an instant the Kenyans had regained the lead. Working their way back from deep inside their half, Julien Candelon scored and Terry Bouhraoua slotted the conversion for a 28-26 win.
Plate Final
Fiji opened the scoring against the United States, Jasa Veremalua going over, before Vatemo Ravouvou added a second. Right on the stroke of half-time Folau Niua got the Americans on the board – making it 12-7 at the break.
The Americans took the lead soon after the restart with a Madison Hughes try, but Ravouvou scored from the restart to restore his team's two-point lead. Sloppy defence then allowed Isake Katonibau to stroll over.
Emosi Mulevoro then pounced another piece of sloppy play by the United States and at 29-14 the game was over as a contest. Brett Thompson got a late consolation try, making the final score 29-19.
Bowl Final
Scotland took a 7-0 first-half lead after an early Hugh Blake try, with some amazing defence keeping England out.
Second-half tries by Lee Jones and James Johnstone, with some more determined defence, saw Scotland secure a 19-0 win – on a rare occasion that they denied England any score.
Shield Final
Russia opened the scoring and looked more energetic in the opening exchanges. However, Samoa's greater pace saw them claim two quickfire tries and 14-5 half-time lead.
That lead became 21-5 minutes into the second half and the Russian heads dropped – three more tries seeing Samoa race to a 40-5 victory.
Cup semifinals
Showing great strength Virimi Vakatawa managed to break a couple of tackles and stretch over for the first try to France. Taking the ball through the phases South Africa eventually managed create space for Juan de Jongh to stroll over, levelling the scores up at 7-all.
The next score, to Rosco Speckman, came from a quick-tap penalty by the BlitzBoks. Philip Snyman completed the first-half scoring, when he collected a well-weighted chip-kick by Speckman – 21-7.
South Africa continued to rely on their defence to keep the hard-running French at bay, but their poor handling and sloppy line-outs remained a major concern. Pierre Lakafia eventually managed to find a hole in the SA defensive line, narrowing the gap to 12-21.
With the clock running down and pressure mounting, France were pinned inside their 22 – the BlitzBokke forcing Terry Bouhraoua over his own goalline, allowing South Africa to hold on for the win.
After a series of nervous errors by both Argentina and Kenya, Rodrigo Etchart sneaked around the side of a ruck for the opening score to the South Americans. Etchart scored a second minutes later, as he sold the Kenyans a huge dummy and then went around the outside of the cover defence – 12-0.
On the stroke of half-time the Kenyans worked their way up-field and eventually created space for Biko Adema to go over, making it 12-5 at the break.
Kenya continued their resurgence after the break, Leonard Mugaisi using his pace to go over on the right wing and close the gap to just two points. German Schultz hit back straight away, as the Argentinians worked it wide to the right where they found the Kenyan defence a bit thin.
Continuing to work the ball through the hands and avoiding contact, Argentina worked enough space for Joaquin Riera to score a try that gave them a 24-10 lead. Robert Aringo pulled one back, making it 24-17 and giving Kenya some hope of pushing the game into extra time. The high drama continued as the Kenyans were awarded three penalties in quick succession, Wanyama scoring in the right corner and going off on a 'winning dance' – only to be told his team was still trailing. Adema hit the upright with his conversion attempt – Argentina winning 24-22.
Results:
France 12-21 South Africa
Argentina 24-22 Kenya
Plate semifinals
In the first semifinal Fiji started off like a house on fire – tries by Apisai Domolailai (two), Savenaca Rawaca and Osea Kolinisau allowing the Pacific Islanders to take a commanding 26-0 lead into half-time.
Pama Fou got the Aussies on the board soon after the restart, but the playmaker injured his shoulder in slamming the ball into the ground. Tom Cusack pulled another try back for the Aussies, but then Alivereti Veitokani ran a sublime angle to stretch the lead to 33-12, leaving Australia with a mountain to climb in the last two minutes. Tries by Emosi Mulevoro (Fiji) and Greg Jeloudev completed the scoring in a 38-19 win for the Pacific Islanders.
The injury-ravaged New Zealand, struggling to field a full team of fit players, could not stop Kevin Swiryn opening the scoring for the United States. However, showing great resolve, the Kiwis bounced back through Augustine Pulu. The first half finished with Will Holder going over to give the Yanks a 14-7 lead.
Carlin Isles slipped around the blind side to get the first try of the second half, before Holder got his second to allow the Americans to stretch that lead to 28-7. Continuing to win the restarts, the United States dominated possession – making it impossible for New Zealand to get back into the game. Ambrose Curtis scored a late consolation try, making the final score 28-14.
Results:
Fiji 38-19 Australia
New Zealand 28-14 United States
Bowl semifinals
In the game between two Six Nations rivals, Scotland easily disposed of Wales (29-14), after racing into a 19-7 half-time lead. Gavin Lowe just missed out on a hat-trick for the Scots, the referee television review determining that he had gone into touch before dotting down.
The second semifinal was a real ding-dong battle – Canada twice taking the lead (7-0 and 14-7), only for a late England rally to snatch victory with a late Alexander Davis try.
Results:
Scotland 29-14 Wales
Canada 14-21 England
Shield semifinals
It was one-way traffic in the first of the Shield semifinals – the physical Samoans never troubled by the amateurs from Zimbabwe, leading 21-0 at halftime and eventually winning 33-0 in an uninspiring match.
The other semifinal was even more one-sided, as the Russians ran in six tries to one against a lacklustre Portugal outfit that showed very little fight – the East Europeans eventually winning 38-5.
Results:
Samoa 33-0 Zimbabwe
Russia 38-5 Portugal
Cup quarterfinals:
Fiji butchered an early try when arrogance saw Isake Katonibau step over the deadball line while taunting an opponent. It did not matter much, as Savenaca Rawaca soon strolled over for Fiji's opening try. Vatemo Ravouvou made that 14-0 a minute later.
However, from then on it was all France, as Fiji's poor attitude and arrogance started costing them dearly. J Candelon made it 7-14 right on half-time, before tries by Steeve Barry and Sacha Valleau gave France the lead (17-14) and ultimately victory. Even when France were reduced to six men – a yellow card against V Vakatawa for a dangerous tackle – the sloppy play saw the Pacific Islanders unable to get the winning score.
Australia scored first in their quarterfinal against South Africa, with Pama Fou strolling over after the Aussies worked the ball through the phases. However, Justin Geduld hit straight back, after Seabelo Senatla cut the Aussie defence with a great angled run. Senatla then strolled over for a well-worked set-piece try to give the home team the lead. The BlitzBoks continued to dominate the breakdown and from one of those turnovers Philip Snyman scored to make it 15-5 at the half-time break.
The South Africans continued with their pressure game after the break and Juan de Jongh, who had moments earlier launched a long downfield kick, sprinted over from a scrum. The Aussies looked rattled by the pressure applied by the BlitzBoks, further adding to their inability to break the home team's defence. Albertus Smith then put the result beyond doubt with a turnover try that started inside the BlitzBoks' 22 – making the final score 25-5.
New Zealand were heavily penalised early in their quarterfinal against Argentina, with Fernando Luna opening the South Americans' account after three minutes. Isaac ta Tamaki pulled one straight back for the Kiwis, after poor discipline cost the Argentineans a penalty. Rodrigo Etchart scored a long-range try, after a great angled run, to make it 14-5 to the South Americans at the break.
Teddy Stanaway pulled a try back for the Kiwis almost straight from the restart, but poor defence allowed Renzo Barbier to restore the Argentinean lead to 19-12. The South Americans let themselves down with some poor discipline and Beaudine Waaka scored a try that allowed the Kiwis to level the scores. The scores strayed unchanged, pushing the game into sudden-death extra time – Tamaki going from hero to villain by being red-carded for a dangerous tackle – allowing Bautista Ezcurra to slot a drop-goal for victory in the second half of extra time.
William Ambaka opened the scoring for Kenya in the first minute, after stealing a United States line-out just metres from the American line. Collins Injera then finished off a well-worked move down the left wing, as the Africans stretched the lead against the Yanks. Ambaka scored his second try when the Kenyans pounced on an American handling error – leading 19-0 at the half-time break.
American got the second half off to the perfect start, Perry Baker's pace taking him away from the cover and over the line. Baker scored a second minutes later, as the Eagles continued their fightback. Injera then picked up a stray pass and sprinted more than 80 metres to make the game safe – 26-10.
Results
Fiji 14-17 France
Australia 5-25 South Africa
New Zealand 19-22 Argentina (extra time, level 19-all at the end of regular time)
Kenya 26-10 United States
Bowl quarterfinals:
In the first of the Bowl matches Scotland got off to a flyer, racing to a 19-0 half-time lead – with tries from Lee Jones (two) and James Farndale. Samoa Toloa and Tofatuimoana Solia pulled two tries back for the Pacific Islanders in a second half in which they showed a bit more energy, but Mark Robertson sealed the win for the Scots with a late five-pointer.
Zimbabwe gave Wales a run for their money in the first half, which finished 7-all. However, two tries by Adam Thomas took the game away from the African team in the second half – with the losers getting a late consolation score.
Canada simply had too much pace and power for a Russian team that seemed to struggle with the tempo and intensity of the game and the Cape Town heat – which for a second day had approached 30°C. Four first-half tries by Canada (a 26-0 lead was followed by an even more dominate second half in which the Canucks scored five more tries to complete the rout.
England appeared to be lethargic and in cruise control in the first half against Portugal, leading just 14-7 at the break. However, scores by Cameron Cowell and Dan Bibby early in the second half took the game away from the Portuguese – with a second from Bibby and two more from Alexander Davis completing the rout.
Results:
Scotland 26-14 Samoa
Wales 21-12 Zimbabwe
Canada 55-0 Russia
England 49-7 Portugal
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