The Springbok Sevens crew have certified for the quarter-finals on the Cathay / Hong Kong Sevens with two victories from their three pool video games.
On Friday, they beat Ireland by 14-7, and adopted that up with an excellent 26-17 win over Kenya in their ultimate Pool D conflict, however New Zealand – who received all three pool video games – proved too sturdy early on Saturday morning, profitable a decent encounter by 12-7.
The South Africans got here up simply brief towards the Kiwis, present leaders on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings, with the crew in black scoring twice to the solitary Blitzbok attempt by Mfundo Ndhlovu. Scores had been tied 7-7 on the break.
The Blitzboks managed to carry onto the ball a lot better and at instances stretched New Zealand’s defence, however the Kiwis held on.
Their first attempt got here from a scrum after the South Africans misplaced the ball in the Kiwi 22, with Leroy Carter breaking by way of a deal with to place his crew 7-0 forward.
But the Blitzboks didn’t drop their heads and Ndhlovu scored late in the primary half, and Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion ensured the groups go into the break stage on the scoreboard.
The second half delivered extra of the identical, and the Blitzboks had been made to defend a bit extra which they did very properly, however Cody Vai discovered house out huge in the tenth minute to edge NZ forward by 5 factors.
The South Africans tried very laborious to breach the Kiwi defence, however just a few errors price them and New Zealand managed to carry on for the win.
In their second sport towards Kenya, the Blitzboks began very properly, scoring three tries in the primary half en path to a 26-17 win.
The South Africans conceded two early penalties, however they did properly to comprise Kenya and pin them in their very own half.
With a slight variation in techniques, Shaun Williams scored the Blitzboks’ first attempt from a intelligent grubber after Ndhlovu received a breakdown turnover. Duarttee’s conversion made it 7-0.
Moments later it was 14-0 after Siviwe Soyizwapi scored from the restart, plucking the ball out of the air in entrance of two Kenyans to run in untouched beneath the uprights.
Christie Grobbelaar scored the third attempt from a steal by Duarttee to present the Blitzboks a helpful 19-0 lead on the break.
Kenya hit again with a Nelson Oyoo attempt early in the second half, however then Dononvan Don, on debut in Hong Kong, scored his first attempt in a Blitzbok jersey when a unfastened ball was hacked forward and the Griffons speedster gathered to race all of 60m for the attempt, with Williams’ conversion all however sealing the deal at 26-5.
Kenya scored two extra tries, by Jeff Oluoch and Billy Odhiambo, to shut the hole, however the Blitzboks did what they needed to regardless of a late yellow card to Ryan Oosthuizen.
Scorers:
Springbok Sevens 7 (7) New Zealand 12 (7)
Springbok Sevens – Try: Mfundo Ndhlovu. Conversion: Ricardo Duarttee.
New Zealand – Tries: Leroy Carter, Cody Vai. Conversion: Akuila Rokolisoa.
Springbok Sevens 26 (19) Kenya 17 (0)
Springbok Sevens – Tries: Shaun Williams, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Christie Grobbelaar, Donovan Don. Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (2), Shaun Williams.
Kenya 17 (0) – Tries: Nelson Oyoo, Jeff Oluoch, Billy Odhiambo. Conversion: Johnstone Olindi.
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