South Africa’s Blitzboks delivered a stunning performance to eliminate top-ranked New Zealand 14-7 in the quarterfinals of the Rugby Sevens at the Olympic Games in Paris. The victory, characterised by sheer guts and determination, propels the Blitzboks into the semi-finals, where they will compete for a medal at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Upon suffering a 17-5 defeat to New Zealand in pool play on Wednesday, the Blitzboks hit back in style on Thursday, causing a significant upset. The match, deemed revenge for the pool play defeat, showcased the South African team’s resilience and tactical brilliance, ensuring their place in the semi-finals.
The Blitzboks started strong, with team captain Selvyn Davids and Tristan Leyds scoring tries in the third and fourth minutes of the first half. Leyds successfully converted both tries, giving South Africa an early lead. Davids used his pace to exploit a gap and crash over the try line, while Leyds try was particularly
memorable. It resulted from a counter-attack that began with a turnover on the Blitzboks tryline. following some sublime defence.
New Zealand managed to hit back two minutes after the first-half buzzer with a try by Moses Leo, converted by Andrew Knewstubb, making the score 14-7 at the break.
The second half saw wave after wave of New Zealand attacking, but the Blitzboks defence held firm. South Africa’s defence was nothing short of heroic. They tackled with the tenacity of terriers, often forcing mistakes from the Kiwis and regaining possession. This defensive prowess ensured that New
Zealand could not add to their score, allowing the Blitzboks to seal the deal with one of their best performances of the season.
The Blitzboks will now face France in the semi-finals, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30 on Saturday afternoon. This victory is a significant boost for South Africa as they progress in the Olympic tournament, with their eyes set firmly on a medal.
Match Summary
Scores:
South Africa, 14 (14)
New Zealand 7 (7)
SA: Tries: Selvyn Davids, Tristan Leyds. Conversions: Leyds (2).
NZ: Try Moses Leo. Conversion: Andrew Knewstubb.
