Zain Davids scored in Hamilton to win it for the Blitzboks

Zain Davids scored the match-winning try for the Blitzboks against Argentina. Photo: Getty Images.

Blitzboks go unbeaten to set-up France quarter-final showdown

The Blitzboks to face France in the quarter-finals of the Hamilton Sevens after tough wins over Spain and Argentina saw them top Pool D.

Zain Davids scored in Hamilton to win it for the Blitzboks

Zain Davids scored the match-winning try for the Blitzboks against Argentina. Photo: Getty Images.

The Blitzboks will come up against France in the quarter-finals of the Hamilton Sevens after tough wins over Spain and Argentina saw them top Pool D.

The Blitzboks weren’t at their ruthless best, but it’s testament of this team’s character that they managed to get the job done over Spain and Argentina to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.

These hard-fought victories in the early hours of Saturday morning (SA time) came after the Blitzboks’ opening game 34-5 thrashing of Canada on Friday evening.

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Blitzboks survive Spain scare

In their second pool game, the Blitzboks enjoyed an excellent start but when a little complacency crept into their game, the Spaniards pounced.

After Davlon Blood’s opening score gave them a slender seven-point buffer at the break, tries by Selvyn Davids and Shaun Williams extended that lead to 19-0. With four minutes still remaining in the contest, the Blitzboks looked set to go big and run away with it on the scoreboard.

But that wasn’t the case, as Spain mounted a comeback. They came within seven points of the target, but ultimately fell short as the Blitzboks called on their defensive prowess to halt the Spanish onslaught and get them over the line in Hamilton.

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South Africa sneak it at the death against Argentina

Zain Davids’ last-minute try gave the Blitzboks a nerve-wrecking 17-14 over victory Argentina to ensure they remain unbeaten and get out of the pool and into the playoffs unscathed.

Argentina landed the first blow in this game when they split the Blitzboks’ defence for a converted try as early as the second minute. Two late first half scores by Blood and Christie got the South Africans back into the contest and into the driving seat with a five-point lead at the break.

Argentina, though, remained determined and hit back after the resumption to retake the lead. The South Americans then shut up shot to try to defend their lead. And for the majority of the time left on the clock, they succeeded. But then Davids managed to breach Argentina’s defence to turn the result on its head in Hamilton.

South Africa and France will square off in a quarter-final encounter which kicks off at 23:58 (SA time) on Saturday night.

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BLITZBOKS’ POOL D SCHEDULE IN HAMILTON (SA TIMES):

Friday, 20 January
Beat Canada 34-5

Saturday, 21 January
Beat Spain 19-12
Beat Argentina 17-14
v France – 23:58

Blitzboks squad — Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Selvyn Davids, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Christie Grobbelaar, Shaun Williams, Masande Mtshali, Shilton van Wyk, Darren Adonis, Dalvon Blood, Jaiden Baron, Ricardo Duarttee.

The Blitzboks squad competing at the Hamilton Sevens.
The Blitzboks squad competing at the Hamilton Sevens.