HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 04: Paula Dranisinukula of Fiji makes a break during the Cup final match between Fiji and South Africa during the 2018 New Zealand Sevens at FMG Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 04: Paula Dranisinukula of Fiji makes a break during the Cup final match between Fiji and South Africa during the 2018 New Zealand Sevens at FMG Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The Blitzboks came so close, yet so far from claiming their second title of the season, as they were downed 24-17 by Fiji in the Hamilton Sevens final.
The Bokke made light work of Scotland in their opening match of day two, easing to comfortable 22-0 victory in the quarter-final. They’d certainly picked up from where they left off on day one.
They went on to play Australia in the semis, and proved too much for the opposition. Their cruise to the final kept up South Africa’s incredible form in this season’s Sevens tournaments:
The Blitzbok defeated @Aussie7s 24-5 in the Cup semi of the @NZ_Sevens in Hamilton to set up a clash in the final with @Fiji7sTeam . A second conscutive final for the Blitzboks and their third from four tournaments in the 2017/2018 @WorldRugby7s .
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) February 4, 2018
Heartbreak for the Blitzboks
However, Olympic champions Fiji eventually out-muscled the SA side. A fired-up Fijian outfit stormed their way to a exhilarating 24-17 victory.
Fiji went a man down in the first minute, and the Bokke capitalised immediately as Kwagga Smith went over the white wash in the third minute. Parity was restored by Alosio Naduva, as the teams exchanged unconverted tries.
South Africa hit top gear soon afterwards, notching two more tries through Kyle Brown and Branco du Preez, with the latter seeing his try converted for a 17-5 half-time lead.
Fijian comeback rattles Blitzboks
However, Fiji came roaring back as Naduva crossed the whitewash for the second time, before Du Preez was sin-binned for a tackle off the ball. With the lead cut to five points, and a man light, the pressure eventually became too much.
Naduva touched down for his hat-trick, and Eroni Sau extended the lead to 24-17 right at the death, and that’s how it finished in Hamilton.
The next Sevens tournament moves on to Las Vegas on Friday 2 March. South Africa can take a lot of heart from their performance in New Zealand, and should fancy themselves to win the title Stateside.
