Blitzbokke to face Samoa in Vegas semis

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 08, Cecil Afrika in the game between Samoa and SA during day 1 of the Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on December 08, 2012 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Photo by Carl Fourie / Gallo Images

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 08, Cecil Afrika in the game between Samoa and SA during day 1 of the Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on December 08, 2012 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Photo by Carl Fourie / Gallo Images

Published Feb 10, 2013

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Johannesburg – South Africa will face defending USA Sevens champions Samoa in the Cup semi-finals in Las Vegas after they won both their matches early on Sunday morning (SA time).

Their semi-final is scheduled for 9.54 pm on Sunday.

Earlier, the Springbok Sevens completed their pool fixtures with a hardworking 15-5 win over a tenacious Kenya, scoring three tries to one, to qualify in unbeaten fashion for the Cup quarterfinals.

A brace of tries by Chris Dry and another one by Philip Snyman saw the Springbok Sevens safely past Kenya, who last weekend lost to New Zealand in the Wellington Cup final.

South Africa then qualified for the semifinals with a 26-0

victory over Wales.

Cornal Hendricks led the way with two tries - his fifth overall of the tournament - while Cheslin Kolbe and Warren Whiteley also added a try each. Kolbe and Branco du Preez (2) slotted three conversions.

Springbok Sevens coach, Paul Treu, said Samoa would be very tough opponents.

“It will be important for us to keep our focus and our momentum because Samoa is playing so well, they are the defending champions and have good support here in Las Vegas.”

Pool winners New Zealand and Fiji advanced to the other semifinal.

In other quarterfinal action earlier in the day, Samoa beat Scotland 12-5, New Zealand defeated Canada 17-0 while Fiji edged the USA 21-19 in a thrilling encounter.

New Zealand currently lead the World Series standings on 77

points, ahead of Kenya on 56 and Samoa on 54. South Africa, Fiji, and France are joint fourth on 51 points. – Sapa

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