Blitzboks crash and burn at Cape Town Sevens

The Blitzboks crashed out of the Cape Town Sevens after losing 10-7 to Samoa in extra-time of the Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The Blitzboks will have to wait another year for success at the Cape Town Sevens after they slumped to a heartbreaking three-point defeat against Samoa in extra-time of their semi-final showdown. It’s now been seven years — dating back to 2015 — since they last lifted the Cup at the Cape Town Sevens.

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After being deadlocked at 7-7 at full-time, the game went to extra-time, meaning whoever scores first wins. Samoa kicked off, but Darren Adonis fumbled the possession and Shilton van Wyk played it from an offside position, resulting in Samoa getting a penalty straight in front of the posts. They opted to kick at goal and Faafoi  Falaniko stepped up to turn the opportunity into a Cup final berth with a three-pointer.

Not to take anything away from Samoa’s physical dominance, but the Blitzboks were completely overwhelmed by the occasion and the expectation of the crowd.

They offered little in the way of attack and just about managed to keep the Samoans down to one try in the first half. A score which came about after Ricardo Duarttee was sent off for an act of petulance right on the tryline. Not agreeing with a refereeing decision, Tricky Ricky stupidly threw the ball away and Samoa exploited the man-over advantage, creating a massive overlap to score and convert.

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The second half was no better in terms of the quality of play, but fortunately for the Blitzboks they did cross for a try to draw level when Ryan Oosthuizen angrily powered over a tackler from close range for a touchdown which sent the game to extra-time, bringing into play the golden point law: Whoever scores first, advances to the final.

But it wasn’t to be for Sandile Ngcobo’s men, as they lost their heads from the all-important kick off, which ultimately led to their downfall.

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The Blitzboks squad for Cape Town Sevens: 

Impi Visser – 23 tournaments, 118 matches, 125 points (25 tries)
Zain Davids – 34 tournaments, 170 matches, 160 points (32 tries)
Ryan Oosthuizen – 34 tournaments, 163 matches, 165 points (33 tries)
James Murphy – 10 tournaments, 46 matches, 50 points (10 tries)
JC Pretorius – 22 tournaments, 116 matches, 245 points (49 tries)
Masande Mtshali – 1 tournament, 1 match
Branco du Preez – 84 tournaments, 426 matches, 1442 points (101 tries, 466 conversions, 1 drop goal)
Ricardo Duarrtee – 1 tournament, 6 matches, 30 points (4 tries, 5 conversions)
Darren Adonis – 8 tournaments, 33 matches, 54 points (10 tries, 2 conversions)
Muller Du Plessis – 21 tournaments, 98 matches, 325 points (65 tries)
Shilton van Wyk – 6 tournaments, 34 matches, 50 points (10 tries)
Dalvon Blood – 2 tournaments, 10 matches, 25 points (5 tries)
Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) – 42 tournaments, 221 matches, 690 points (138 tries)

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