South Africa to face USA in Glasgow IRB Sevens Cup quarters
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Loading...The Springbok Sevens team finished day one of the Emirates Airlines Glasgow Sevens in impressive fashion by beating Samoa 27-0 in their final pool A match to end the day undefeated.
The BlitzBokke will face the USA in the quarterfinals of the Cup competition on Sunday.
They needed to dig deep in earlier matches, first repelling a desperate Kenya 17-14 in their opening match and then came from behind to beat Canada 17-14 in their second match.
Against Samoa, the speed and elusiveness of Justin Geduld proved too much for the physical Samoans and two tries by the playmaker set the tone of the match.
A Cornal Hendricks try helped the scoreline to 15-0 at the break. Tries by Steven Hunt and Chris Dry in the second half completed the rout.
In their opening match against African rivals Kenya, Paul Delport scored early. Kenya got a try back, but his 33rd try this series by Cornal Hendricks gave South Africa a 12-7 lead at the break. That buffer can in handy in the second half. Delport scored his second to have the BlitzBokke up by 17-7, but a late surge by Kenya resulted in a tight finish.
Not as tight as the finish against Canada though. Trailing 5-14 with two minutes left, Seabelo Senatla scored after a great run, but it still had the South Africans trailing by two. The last play of the match started close to the South African tryline and following numerous phases, Stephan Dippenaar could race in to score the winning try.
Delport, Senatla and Dippenaar scored the tries and Justin Geduld kicked the conversion.
Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu was very pleased after the day’s play.
“Our guys really stood up well. We just wanted to start day one well and build on that. This is exactly what happened and I am very pleased with the way we played.”
Treu is aware that they will start from scratch on day two.
“We play the USA in the quarters and they will be very determined to do well as they are in the relegation zone and need good results. If we can deliver the same intensity and team work tomorrow, we will do well,” Treu said.
“These players are playing for their country and for each other and that motivates them.”
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