SA Sevens to face Scots in Commonwealth play-offs
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The South African Sevens rugby team qualified for the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games after they won all three their Pool matches today at the Delhi University grounds. They play Scotland tomorrow for a place in the Cup semi-finals.
The Springbok Sevens beat Wales 21-5 in their third and last Pool B match of the day. Scotland snatched the runners-up spot in Pool A after beating Canada 19-17 in their deciding encounter.
Wales began the match in determined fashion and got their reward when Richie Pugh powered his way over the try line within the first minute – the first points South Africa conceded on the day. However, the Springbok Sevens then hit back with three converted tries to race to a 21-5 half-time lead.
Boom Prinsloo, Cecil Afrika and captain, Paul Delport, all dotted down just before halftime. Afrika was on target with all three conversions.
The Welsh defence was less generous during the second half and they frustrated South Africa at every opportunity.
Comment by Paul Treu, Springbok Sevens coach after day one:
“If you take into consideration that we fielded four new players, then I am very satisfied with our overall performance today. We took our chances against Tonga and India and although we started brightly against Wales, I am not too pleased with the many unforced errors during the second half.
“However, we will continue to grow and develop as a new team and I must give the senior players credit for the way they’ve guided the newcomers. We are looking forward to face Scotland tomorrow and I know it will be a very good contest.”
Scorers: South Africa 21 (21): Tries: Boom Prinsloo, Cecil Afrika, Paul Delport. Conversions: Afrika (3); Wales 5 (5): Try: Richie Pugh.
Hat-trick for Sithole
Sibusiso Sithole scored a hat-trick of tries in South Africa’s comprehensive victory over hosts, India, in their second Poo B match. The team led 33-0 at halftime.
Renfred Dazel showed he is nearing his best form again after injury interrupted his playing opportunities for long periods last season. The playmaker played a big role in almost all his team’s attacking moves.
Sithole, a member of the SA Under 20-team at the IRB Junior World Champions earlier this year in Argentina, showed a lot of promise on attack with his strong runs, which resulted in three deserving tries.
Scorers: South Africa 59 (33): Sibusiso Sithole (3), Renfred Dazel (2), MJ Mentz, Paul Delport, Ryno Benjamin (2). Conversions: Dazel (4), Cecil Afrika (3); India: 0
Mtembu scores first try
Earlier this morning at the Delhi University, the Springbok Sevens opened the tournament with a 29-0 victory over a tenacious Tonga.
Lubabalo Mtembu scored the first try of the tournament when he crossed over the line in the first minute. Paul Delport, the SA Sevens captain, then scored twice to give South Africa a 17-0 lead at the break after Cecil Afrika added a conversion. Afrika and Powell scored two second-half tries to secure a well-deserved 29-0 win.
South Africa: 29 (17) Tries: Lubabalo Mtembu, Paul Delport (2), Cecil Afrika, Neil Powell. Conversions: Afrika (1); Tonga: 0
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