The Springbok Sevens team shook things up on Sunday, climbing back to the top of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series leaderboard, even after a tough 29-0 loss to Australia in the Sydney Sevens final.
The Blitzboks kicked off the tournament sitting second on the log but have now leapfrogged New Zealand after three electrifying tournaments in this thrilling ten-stop series – with the next leg set for Hamilton, New Zealand, next weekend.
Unfortunately, South Africa headed into the final missing their influential captain Philip Snyman, sidelined by a hamstring injury. To add to the challenge, Ruhan Nel had to be replaced earlier in the tournament due to a sprained knee, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe stepping up for the last two matches, marking his debut as the latest Springbok Sevens star.
Before the final, the Blitzboks demonstrated their brilliance with a seamless 35-7 victory over the USA in the semis, following a commanding 17-0 win against Kenya in the quarterfinals. Their attacking flair shone through as they notched the most tries and dominated tackles across the tournament.
However, the home side, burning to claim their first Sydney tournament win since 2002, proved too formidable. Down 14-0 at halftime, the Blitzboks struggled to ignite their attack and missed 25% of their tackles – a performance that did not sit well with coach Neil Powell.
“The final wasn’t our best showing. We had moments in the first half but lacked clinical finishing. Our fundamentals were off – losing scrum feeds and making poor lineout choices. We were still in the fight at halftime, but once Australia gained momentum in the second half, it was tough to contain them.”
Powell praised the team’s defensive efforts throughout the weekend except in the final. “Conceding only two tries during the day but allowing five in the final was disappointing. It’s clear that competition is fierce with three different tournament winners so far. We need to stay sharp and fine-tune our game for the next opportunity in Hamilton.”
The coach also mentioned the medical team will assess Ruhan Nel and Philip Snyman promptly and arrange replacements if necessary.
Key Stats and Highlights:
- Cecil Afrika stretched his national record to a staggering 1,347 points and climbed to fourth on the all-time global points list.
- Seabelo Senatla extended his national try-scoring record to 211, ranking fourth worldwide. He is also the current series’ leading try-scorer with 22.
- Justin Geduld was the top points scorer at the Sydney tournament, racking up four tries and 18 conversions.
Top Five in the World Series Standings After Sydney:
- South Africa – 58 points
- New Zealand – 54 points
- Australia – 43 points
- Argentina – 41 points
- Fiji – 40 points
Looking ahead, the draw for the HSBC Hamilton Sevens has placed the Blitzboks in Pool B alongside England, Russia and Papua New Guinea – setting the stage for more exciting rugby action next weekend.
