Springbok Sevens crowned Glasgow Sevens champions
Springbok Sevens crowned Glasgow Sevens champions
The Springbok Sevens team won their second consecutive tournament of the HSBC World Sevens Series on Sunday when they defeated the All Blacks Sevens team 28-21 in the final of the Emirates Airlines Glasgow Sevens tournament.
This victory follows a win in Tokyo last month and makes South Africa the only team in the series to have won three tournaments, following an earlier win in Las Vegas as well.
The win could not stop New Zealand from winning the overall 2012/13 HSBC series, with South Africa set to finish second with one tournament left to go.
Fiji can still overhaul South Africa for second spot, providing they win the last tournament in London and the BlitzBokke fail to make the Cup quarter-finals.
Commenting on the win, Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu was quick to congratulate New Zealand for the series win.
“They were the most consistent team this year and that is why they are the overall champions, so it is well deserved to them,” said Treu.
With regards to his side’s tournament victory, Treu paid tribute to his players.
“We arrived here without two of our playmakers (Branco du Preez and Cecil Afrika), but this just made the remaining players in the squad much more determined. We had to nurse a couple of players through this tournament, so it is very rewarding to see their hard work paying off.”
The final was a tense affair. The South Africans started well with a great try by Seabelo Senatla, but the Kiwis scored from the restart to even things out again. They then took the lead with a well-worked try (14-7) and at the half-time break, Treu’s team talk inspired the squad.
“The coach reminded us to what our strong points are and urged us to execute that. He asked us to play minute to minute doing what we do best. We did that and it worked for us,” captain Frankie Horne said afterwards.
This resulted in tries to Steven Hunt and Philip Snyman and when Cornal Henricks scored, it seemed as if the title was won.
A late try by New Zealand set up a classic finish with second to go, but the South African defence held and the title was theirs.
Earlier, they outclassed USA in the Cup quarters, beating them 22-5. Chris Dry, Senatla (2) and Paul Delport all scored tries.
In the semi-final they faced England and again two breakaway tries by Senatla set-up the win. A Cornal Hendricks try secured a 24-17 win.
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