Bok Sevens to play Australia in Cup Quarters
The Springbok Sevens will play Australia in the Cup Quarterfinals of the NZI Sevens tournament in Wellington after they ended day one in second position in Pool D following their 7-7 draw against Fiji.
The Boks ended the day with six log points after they recorded a 31-5 victory over Canada, before conceding a 14-12 defeat against France. Australia topped Pool C after they rounded off an undefeated run of three victories over Tonga (47-7), Kenya (21-19) and Samoa (29-5).
Tournament hosts New Zealand (40) and England who is currently in first position on the HSBC Sevens World Series log on 44 points were the other unbeaten teams on Friday.
South Africa and Fiji were both guilty of forcing many forward passes during their game which saw both sides scoring one try. Seremaia Burotu scored under the posts during the 4th minute of the game to hand the Pacific Islanders a 7-0 half time lead. His try was converted by Ilai Tinai.
The Springbok Sevens though leveled the game to 7-7 when former SA U20 utility back Branco du Preez added a converted try with two minutes remaining in the match. The Boks were physically up to the challenge posed by the Fijians. They looked good at the breakdown and won numerous turnovers from the scrums and broken play. However the game was played between the two 10-meter lines which resulted in both sides not threatening each other’s try lines during the game.
The Springbok Sevens scored five tries during their first match at the NZI Sevens on Friday against Canada before defeating their North American opponents by 31-5.
Captain Kyle Brown scored a brace while Du Preez, Pieter Engelbrecht and Frankie Horne all added tries for the South Africans. Renfred Dazel kicked three conversions. Canada’s only points were scored by Sean Duke, who crossed the try line shortly after the half time break.
However the Boks were guilty of lapses in concentration on defence and numerous unforced errors crept in to their attacking play during their match against France which ultimately saw them concede a 14-12 defeat in their second game of the NZI Sevens.
Du Preez was the only Bok to score points during this match after his solo efforts saw him run in with two tries. The former Baby Bok star also chipped in with one conversion. France, who suffered a 14-19 defeat against Canada and a 42-0 loss to Fiji earlier during the day, scored two tries which were added by Jean Baptiste Gobelet and Renaud Delmas. Terry Bouhraoua and Mathieu Acebes each kicked a conversion.
NZI Sevens Cup Quarterfinal Fixtures:
- England v Argentina (03h33)
- Fiji v Samoa (03h55)
- Australia v South Africa (04h17)
- New Zealand v Wales (04h39)
Springbok Sevens Results, Day One:
South Africa 7 Fiji 7
Scorers: Springbok Sevens – Try: Branco du Preez; Conversion: Du Preez. Fiji – Try: Seremaia Burotu; Conversion: Ilai Tinai
South Africa 31 Canada 5
Scorers: Springbok Sevens – Tries: Kyle Brown (2), Branco du Preez, Pieter Engelbrecht, Frankie Horne; Conversions: Renfred Dazel (3). Canada – Try: Sean Duke.
South Africa 12 France 14
Scorers: Springbok Sevens – Tries: Branco du Preez (2); Conversion: Du Preez. France – Tries: Jean Baptiste Gobelet, Renaud Delmas; Conversions: Terry Bouhraoua, Mathieu Acebes.
Visit the official HSBC Sevens World Series website at www.irbsevens.com for detailed tournament information and www.sarugby.co.za for updated Springbok Sevens news.
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