RUGBY NEWS - The Springbok Sevens will head to Los Angeles in August with a host of teams breathing down their neck as they try and secure the HSBC World Series title.
The Blitzboks still lead the overall standings after finishing fifth in London, but their conquerors Australia, who came from 17 points down to beat them in the quarterfinals, and went on to win in extra time in the final against New Zealand, are now just two points in behind them.
Argentina is third and could also win the series if the Blitzboks have another off the weekend, while Fiji, who missed one tournament and were hit by Covid issues in another, are fourth, some 22 points behind the Blitzboks.
The Blitzboks downed Ireland 14-5 in the fifth-place final, far away from where they wanted to be. Had they finished third or above they would have claimed the title with a round to go, but their second-half capitulation against the Wallabies sunk that ideal.
Instead, they downed Spain and then Ireland to claim valuable points, but will know it will all mean nothing if they don’t find their mojo again before the LA leg, which is weeks before the World Cup in Cape Town.
Earlier they bowed out of the London Sevens tournament, blowing a 17 point lead as they lost 21-17 to Australia in the quarterfinals.
After impressing in the opening pool games and winning a tough pool, all was set for them to head into the playoffs and they started exceptionally well, running in three tries to lead 17-0.
Captain Siviwe Soyizwapi, Muller du Plessis and Ronald Brown all scored first-half tries as the Blitzboks dominated and didn’t give the Aussies the ball.
Australia scored just before halftime through Ben Dowling and suddenly in the second half, the Blitzboks were hit by a string of penalties.
Australia scored twice through Henry Paterson to take the lead, but then a head-high shot on Du Plessis, which saw him stretchered off the field, was considered only a penalty.
While Du Plessis was heading towards the ground, most refs give an automatic yellow for that, but like every other second-half call, it favoured Australia and they held out for the win.
