World Championship: BlitzBoks are back-to-back champs

DAY TWO UPDATES: The BlitzBoks secured their second consecutive HSBC SVNS World Championship title with a hard-fought 14-12 win over Fiji during the quarterfinals in Bordeaux on Saturday.

The BlitzBoks headed to Bordeaux with 38 points out of a possible 40 from the first two HSBC SVNS World Championship tournaments.

The reigning champions had a four-point lead over nearest rivals Argentina, while third-placed Australia were a further four points back.

Both Argentina and Australia failed to make the semifinals, making it impossible to overtake the BlitzBoks in the overall standings.

Argentina’s campaign was cut short in the group stages; Australia suffered a 0-26 defeat to France in their quarterfinal. Therefore, a win over Fiji for the BlitzBoks proved enough for the World Championship trophy.

South Africa endured a difficult start as Fiji raced into a 12-0 lead during the opening exchanges. Matters worsened for the BlitzBoks when Ryan Oosthuizen was shown a yellow card, reducing his side to six men.

Despite Fiji’s dominance, South Africa defended resolutely and were handed a lifeline when the Pacific Islanders were also reduced to six players. Tristan Leyds then produced a perfectly weighted cross-kick for Sebastiaan Jobb to score on the stroke of half-time.

The BlitzBoks carried that momentum into the second half and moved ahead when Donavan Don sliced through the defence before sending Jobb over for his second try. Ricardo Duarttee added the conversion to hand South Africa a 14-12 advantage.

Tempers flared throughout a fiercely contested encounter, with a mass scuffle resulting in South Africa being penalised after Duarttee was adjudged to have pushed an opponent in the face.

There was further drama in the closing stages when the BlitzBoks lost possession at the breakdown. Fiji launched one final attack following a quick tap penalty but knocked the ball forward inside their own half, bringing an end to a pulsating quarterfinal.

South Africa will take on France in Sunday’s semifinal. However, the side can start their World Champion celebrations early.

New Zealand will face Spain in the other semifinal.

The route to the play-offs

The BlitzBoks had to sneak into the quarterfinals in Bordeaux.

The South Africans were on the brink of a catastrophe when they lost their final Pool A game 12-15 to Fiji.

However, they received a massive favour from New Zealand after their rivals recorded a 24-21 win over Argentina in a tense Pool C game.

That result gave the BlitzBoks a last-eight spot as one of the two best third-placed teams.

It meant that Argentina missed out on the quarterfinals and lost their shot at the World Championship title.

It was a nervy start for the BlitzBoks with Siviwe Soyizwapi getting a yellow card for taking out a player without the ball in that pool match against Fiji.

The Fijians took advantage of their extra man with Apete Narogo going over in the corner after a turnover.

The BlitzBoks hit back with Shilton van Wyk running in for the score after a great weaving run by Tristan Leyds.

However, the Fijians had the final say of the first half after George Bose found his way to the tryline after picking up the ball from an offload.

At half-time, it was 10-7 to Fiji.

It was the perfect start to the second half for Fiji Viwa Naduvalo, who beat his man on the outside before sprinting away for his team’s third try.

There was a glimmer of hope for the BlitzBoks after Fiji had a try disallowed before Isaia Rugu received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.

A try by Sebastiaan Jobb brought the South Africans within three points. They had the chance to score the winner with the final attack of the game, but they were not clinical enough in the strike zone.

Day Two Men’s Results:

USA 43-7 Uruguay
Australia 12-10 Spain
Kenya 5-14 Great Britain
South Africa 12-15 Fiji
Argentina 21-24 New Zealand
France 14-7 Germany

Cup Quarterfinals (start at 15.30 SAST; 13.30 GMT):

Australia 0-26 France
Fiji 12-14 South Africa
New Zealand 27-5 Great Britain
USA 5-17 Spain

Ninth-place semifinals:

Germany v Kenya
Argentina v Uruguay