Cape Town – The Blitzboks will face Argentina in the Cape Town Sevens Cup final after powering to a 21-12 win over France in the semi-final on Sunday afternoon.
Juan de Jongh, Rosko Specman and Philip Snyman scored the Blitzboks’ three tries before halftime to secure their passage to the final, which will take place at 7.30pm on Sunday at the Cape Town Stadium.
Springbok Sevens superstar Seabelo Senatla was left out of the starting line-up as he hasn’t been at his best at the Cape Town Sevens this weekend, with his handling in particularly not being up his usual high standards.
But it was still a brave call to make by Blitzbok coach Neil Powell for such a big game as a Cup semi-final, when you would want your best players on the field at all times. Powell went further and kept another speedster in Cheslin Kolbe reserve as well, with Francois Hougaard and Rosko Specman getting the nod.
And both Hougaard and Specman contributed to a strong-willed performance by the Blitzboks, who haven’t quite reached their best form yet, but have improved with every game they’ve played.
It was another test of character for the South Africans as the French scored first in the Cup semi-final. Specman lost the ball backwards inside the Blitzboks’ 22, and the French poured through to reclaim possession. The ball was worked out to giant No 7 Virimi Vakatawa, and he stomped his way over the tryline to hand France a 7-0 lead.
That would’ve increased the pressure significantly on the home team, but the Blitzboks hit back quickly. Juan de Jongh broke open the French defence, and smart footwork from Philip Snyman and Francois Hougaard nearly got them over the line. But De Jongh was waiting out wide, and Justin Geduld found his man to draw SA level at 7-7.
Hougaard repaid the faith shown in him by coach Powell with a terrific run, and the ever-influential Geduld kept the French defence engaged before Specman found the opening to put SA ahead at 14-7.
Specman, who is proving to be a worthy ally in the speed and skill stakes to the likes of Kolbe, Senatla and Geduld, then turned creator as he saw the open space behind the French front-line and chipped over the top, with Snyman winning the race to take the Blitzboks into a 21-7 halftime lead.
Geduld missed all five conversions in the 25-5 quarter-final win over Australia earlier on Sunday, but this time around he had a 100 percent goal-kicking record that ensured the French had to slot their extra two-pointers if they wanted to stay on par.
The Blitzboks had a couple of try-scoring chance in the second half, but the French tightened their defence to prevent any further touchdowns.
The South Africans defended well too, with Chris Dry, Snyman and Hougaard putting in big hits.
The French did breach the Blitzboks’ wall eventually, with Pierre Gilles Lakafia slipping through De Jongh’s tackle to bring the visitors back into the game.
But Powell’s men held out for long enough to go through to the Cup final, where they will attempt to clinch a third South African Sevens title in a row after winning the last two events in Port Elizabeth in 2013 and 2014.
Argentina advanced to the final after outlasting Kenya 24-22 in the second semi-final on Sunday. Kenya scored a try in the last minute, but were unsuccessful with the conversion that would’ve taken the match into extra time.
SCORERS
Springbok Sevens – Tries: Juan de Jongh, Rosko Specman, Philip Snyman. Conversions: Justin Geduld (3).
France – Tries: Virimi Vakatawa, Pierre Gilles Lakafia. Conversions: Terry Bouhraoua (1).