Johannesburg - Poor discipline cost the Springbok Sevens a place in the Las Vegas Sevens Cup final, but captain Kyle Brown is hoping to see a turnaround in fortunes in this weekend’s event in Vancouver, Canada.
The Blitzboks conceded two penalty tries, both due to indiscretions by Rosko Specman, who was also given a second yellow card for the second incident right at the end of the match for the South Africans to lose 14-12 to Australia in the Cup semi-final on Sunday night.
Specman was ruled to have not used his arms in a tackle on Quade Cooper, who was nearly over the try line, even though replays showed that he had got both arms around the Australian star.
The Argentina referee Federico Anselmi didn’t call for a TV replay, and awarded the penalty try and yellow card.
And then right at the end of the match, Australian captain Ed Jenkins was hurtling away to dot down the winning try, and Specman hauled him in from behind, but it was a definite late tackle and the referee awarded another yellow card – which made it a red – and a penalty try to hand Australia victory.
The South Africans had to participate in the third-place playoff, and beat hosts USA 21-10.
Fiji defended their Las Vegas Cup title by holding off Australia 21-15 in the final.
“Anybody who hears we lost with two penalty tries will think it must have been a discipline thing that caused (the defeat). It was like six penalties and a yellow card against us, and Australia were playing great rugby throughout the weekend, so it meant we wouldn’t see ourselves in the final,” Brown said.
“It’s a couple of small things, not massive things, but we did address it, so it will make us even more disappointed as it was a focus of the week. We will have a look at that going into Vancouver next week.
“I was very excited to see how seven changes could build the momentum again. From Wellington and Sydney, seeing how well the guys played, to realising we had almost a new squad together here, I was a little bit nervous, to be honest.
“But I’m very proud of the way the guys came together this week. They created a nice bond amongst each other and very excited to move into Vancouver next week.”
The South Africans were down to nine men for the third-place playoff due to injuries to Cecil Afrika and Ruhan Nel, as well as the suspension of Specman, but did well to pull off the 21-10 victory over USA.
“I’m really proud of the way the guys came back in the playoff. To go head to head with America in their final game of the day, we realised they would be pumped up for it,” Brown said.
“It was a test of character for us, to make sure the guys knew exactly what it meant every time they step onto the field. It doesn’t matter against who and what it’s for, it’s about representing that jersey and badge.”
African News Agency