Blitzboks' results and fixtures in Perth (SA times):
Friday, 24 January
SA 24-19 USA
SA 10-7 Australia
Saturday 25 January
SA 17-19 Argentina
Quarterfinal
Fiji 0-19 South Africa
Sunday 26 January
Semi-final
Australia 17-12 SA
Third place play-off
SA 7-14 Spain
Men's final
Argentina 41-5 Australia
2025-01-26 13:01:19
Blitzboks finish 4th at Perth Sevens after loss to Spain
The Blitzboks have finished fourth at the Perth Sevens after a 14-7 loss to Spain in the bronze medal match.
Spain held possession for the early part of the first half, helped by Blitzboks ill-discipline as they gave away two penalties.
That said, much of the Spanish possession was deep in their half, and when they did manage to enter the Blitzboks' half, they were pinged for not releasing, allowing South Africa to get their hands on the ball.
A promising attack from South Africa came to nothing, however, as Ronald Brown was adjudged to have knocked on trying to collect a poor pass.
Spain continued to dominate possession, and the Blitzboks continued to commit infringements, which led to a yellow card for Shilton van Wyk. Another yellow card followed soon after, as Brown was also sent to the bin for two minutes.
The Spanish pressure and their two-man numerical advantage led to the opening score as Eduardo Lopez crossed over under the poles and Juan Ramos converted as the Blitzboks went into half-time 0-7 down.
Spain should have extended their lead early in the second half, but Lopez knock-on with the try-line at their mercy.
The Blitzboks levelled up proceedings with three minutes to go as Selvyn Davids produced some stepping magic to carve apart the Spanish defence.
At 7-all, the game was up for grabs, and it was Spain who scored next Jaime Manteca cut through the Blitzboks' defence for a converted try to push the Spanish lead out to 14-7 with a minute left in the match.
While the Blitzboks had possession in the final moments of the match, the Spanish defence held out to record only their second-ever win over South Africa.
Argentina won the men's tournament beating Australia 41-5 in the final, while in the women's section, Australia ran out 28-26 winners over New Zealand.
Scorers
Spain 14 (7)
Tries: Eduardo Lopez, Jaime Manteca
Conversions: Juan Ramos, Jaime Manteca
South Africa 7 (0)
Try: Selvyn Davids
Conversion: Ronald Brown
- Craig Taylor
2025-01-26 10:03:36
Davids' brace not enough as Australia score in extra-time to break Blitzboks' hearts
The Blitzboks will face Spain for third place at the Perth Sevens after they were beaten in their semi-final clash by Australia after a golden score in extra time.
The home side ran out 17-12 winners in a match that ebbed and flowed throughout.
Australia dominated the opening minutes and drew first blood through George Selwood, who crossed over in the right-hand corner for a converted try.
South Africa hit back almost immediately with some good interplay sending Selvyn Davids over the whitewash. Ronald Brown added the conversion to tie up the match at 7-7.
The Blitzboks seemed certain to score on the stroke of half-time, with Brown breaking free down the right, but somehow, the Australian defence managed to scramble as the teams went into the break level.
The second half saw Davids score his second try for South Africa as they made Australia pay for an errant kick, with the speedster being put away down the right-hand touchline and outpacing the home side's defence.
Brown couldn't convert, but the Blitboks led 12-7 with four minutes to play.
But Australia wasn't out of the contest yet. They launched an attack from deep in their half that resulted in a score for Sidney Harvey.
With the conversion hitting the upright, the teams were tied at 12-12 with a minute to play.
Australia had a chance to wrap up the match in the final seconds when they opted for a kick at goal after South Africa were penalised for a ruck infringement, but Maurice Longbottom missed with his effort as the match went into extra-time.
Drama followed as South Africa lost Ryan Oosthuizen to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-down, which seemed to be a very harsh call.
Using their extra man advantage, Australia grabbed the winning score as Aden Ekanayake crashed over the line, sending the home crowd into raptures and breaking South African hearts.
The Blitzboks will now play Spain for third place, while Australia and Argentina will contest the final.
The match against Spain kicks-off at 12:35 (SA time).
Scorers
Australia: 17 (7)
Tries: George Selwood, Sidney Harvey, Aden Ekanayake
Conversions: Hayden Sargeant
South Africa: 12 (7)
Tries: Selvyn Davids (2)
Conversion: Ronald Brown
- Craig Taylor
2025-01-25 12:57:34
Blitzboks power past Fiji to book Cup semi-final slot
The South African men's sevens side shrugged off theirsomnolent final pool stage performance to produce a workmanlike 19-0 win overFiji in their Cup quarterfinal on Saturday afternoon.
They'll play Australia in one of Sunday's two semi-finals as Philip Snyman'smen continue their sevens renaissance after a disappointing start in Dubai.
They scored two quick tries through Shilton van Wyk andSelwyn Davids in the first four minutes of the first half to take control ofthe game before their suffocating defence took over.
Van Wyk scored next to the poles after excellent phase playto give Ronald Brown an easy conversion while Davids' chip-and-chase in the farleft-hand corner that saw him beat two defenders to the ball allowed the SouthAfrica to takea 12-0 lead.
They were in line for the third two minutes beforehalf-time, but Quewin Nortje's foot was in touch in the build-up to Van Wyk'sdisallowed try.
After tight defence helped them see out the first, a penaltytry they won from foul play committed by Fiji allowed them to take a 19-0 leadand see out the game without many hassles.
Scorers
Fiji: 0
South Africa: 19 (12)
Tries: Shilton van Wyk, Selwyn Davids, Penalty Try
Conversion: Ronald Brown
- Khanyiso Tshwaku
2025-01-25 08:25:02
Blitzboks' sleepy first half costs them against Argentina, get Fiji in quarters
In what was a game of two distinct halves, the South Africanmen's sevens side woke up from a terrible first half, but couldn't pull off thecomeback as they lost their last Pool A game 19-17 to Argentina.
Because of their loss, they finished second in their poolbehind the South Americans, who managed the game reasonably well from start tofinish.
They have drawn Fiji in the quarterfinals, with a 12:19 kick-off.
The Blitzboks had a defensively static first half where theycouldn't get out of their half and conceded three tries in the process.
They came back well in the second half with three tries oftheir own, but Ronald Brown's two missed conversions that were admittedlydifficult.
Argentina played with immense physicality from the firstminute and they were rewarded in the third minute when they scored throughMatteo Graziano.
They made it 12-0 two minutes later when Marcos Monetascored in the corner as the Blitzboks didn't have an answer for Argentina'space and power.Just before half-time, they cemented their 19-0 lead whenMatias Osadczuk crossed the whitewash.
Whatever was said to the South Africans at the break workedas Quewin Nortje scored immediately after the restart.That gave South Africa momentum they didn't relinquish asthey pushed back and made the game a nine-point deficit with Selwyn Davids'try.
Argentina managed the game just enough to allow South Africato score 30 seconds before full-time through Shilton van Wyk, with Brownnailing the conversion.
However, managing the kick-off proved to be beyond SA'sreach as the Argentines earned a deserved table-topping win.
Scorers
South Africa: 17 (0)
Tries: Quewin Nortje, Selwyn Davids, Shilton van Wyk
Conversion: Ronald Brown
Argentina: 19 (19)
Tries: Matteo Graziano, Marcos Moneta, Matias Osadczuk
Conversions: Joaquin Pellandini (2)
- Khanyiso Tshwaku
2025-01-24 14:24:00
Blitzboks march on at Perth Sevens, down hosts in the rain
It was messygiven the relentless rain, but the Blitzboks landed a second straight win at thePerth Sevens on Friday when they beat hosts Australia 10-7.
The resultleaves South Africa, who were crowned Cape Town Sevens winners in December, topof their pool having beaten USA earlier in the day.
Their lastmatch in the pool will be played at 07:50 (SA time) on Saturday morning.
Despitehaving dominated the entirety of the first half, the Blitzboks somehow foundthemselves going into the break 7-5 down with Donavan Don scoring their try.
There wasalso a glaring error from Dewald Human, who dropped the ball over the line forwhat looked to be a certain try.
Things weretight in the second half, but the Blitzboks were sound on defence and capitalisedon an Aussie handling error for David Brits to gather and wiggle over the lineto put the men in green back ahead.
The conversionwent wide once more, but this time the South Africans could hold onto theirlead as they now look good for a spot in the Cup quarter-finals.
Scorers:
SA
Tries:Donavan Don, David Brits
Australia
Tries: JamesTurner
Conversions:Maurice Longbottom
- Lloyd Burnard
2025-01-24 08:56:51
Blitzboks survive USA scare to win Perth Sevens opener
The Blitzboks survived a massivescare from the USA before winning their opening game 24-19 at the Perth Sevenson Friday.
The Americans were leading 19-17inside the final minute, before try at the death from Ronald Brown sealed thewin for South Africa.
The Blitzboks started liked ahouse on fire with early tries from Ricardo Duarttee and Quewin Nortje puttingthem 12-0 ahead.
However, a yellow card for ImpiVisser midway through the first half proved costly. Visser went off for twominutes after he had taken out a USA player in the air at a restart.
The USA cashed in on their one-manadvantage with a brace of tries from Will Chevalier seeing them lead 14-12 athalf-time.
A try early in the second half by LucasLacamp put the USA 19-12 ahead, before the Blitzboks rallied.
Selvyn Davids scored a long-rangetry after taking a quick tap when his side won a penalty at scrum time. Hesprinted almost the entire length of the field to score.
That made the score 19-17 beforeBrown rounded off after relentless pressure at the death by the South Africans.
The Blitzboks' next pool game isagainst hosts Australia at 13:52 (SA time) on Friday. They will also faceArgentina at 07:50 on Saturday.
Scorers:
SA 24 (12)
Tries: Ricardo Duarttee, QuewinNortje, Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown
Conversions: Duarttee, Brown
USA 19 (14)
Tries: Will Chevalier (2), LucasLacamp
Conversions: Steve Tomasin (2)
- Herman Mostert
2025-01-24 07:40:34
2025-01-24 07:40:21
