SA through to quarterfinals of Hong Kong Sevens
The Springbok Sevens easily won their two Pool E matches on Saturday against Hong Kong and Wales to advance to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens, which will be contested on Sunday.
Two tries from Paul Delport and Sibusiso Sithole and one for Sevens debutant Tshotsho Mbovane ensured South Africa topped Pool E at the end of day one after a 42-12 victory against Wales.
Earlier the USA Sevens champions inflicted defeat on the hosts as they ran out eventual 45-0 winners against Hong Kong, Cecil Afrika and Chris Dry both scoring two tries and on day one Paul Treu’s side beat Spain 33-5 in their opening fixture of the tournament, the fifth stop of the HSBC Sevens World Series.
South Africa led 33-0 after a near flawless display of attacking play against hosts Hong Kong. Captain Kyle Brown continued his fine form this season with another inspirational display from the very first whistle.
Brown’s crunching tackle straight from kick-off set the tone for a very good first half display by his team. Brown, the current SA Player Sevens Player of the Year, had a hand in most of the tries and he set up the first two tries by Sibusiso Sithole and Cecil Afrika.
Tshotsho Mbovane, the 18-year debutant, got his first taste of World Series action against Hong Kong and he would have scored had he not slipped while attempting to rush through a gap near the Hong Kong try line.
The youngster however got his name on the scoreboard for the first time in Springbok Sevens colours when he scored the team’s final try against Wales to stretch the score to 42-12.
On Friday Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu praised the impact of Paul Delport. The former Baby Boks captain continued his fine form against Hong Kong and Wales and his combination with Branco Africa and livewire playmaker Afrika produced led to a number of tries on a very successful day at the office for the South Africans.
Treu was afterwards a happy man: “I’m really pleased with the overall effort today, especially our display against Wales. The real business only starts tomorrow morning here in the quarterfinals and our aim will be to keep our focus and our composure and to keep the momentum.
“I’m also very glad that Tshotsho Mbovane could score his first try in his first tournament. This is a special tournament and he will remember it for a long time,” explained Treu
With 24 teams in the draw for Hong Kong split across six pools, only the winner in each group will be guaranteed a place in the Cup quarter finals on day three. They will be joined in the last eight by the two best runners-up.
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