Siviwe Soyizwapi scored a hat trick as the Blitzboks showed their class to dispatch fellow Africans Kenya 24-12 in the Singapore Sevens quarter-finals on Sunday.
The South Africans will now face the mighty Fiji, who beat New Zealand 24-19, in the Cup semi-finals at 10.50am SA time.
England will face Australia in the second semi-final at 11.12am.
The Blitzboks were quick out of the blocks and looked much sharper compared to day one, playing with much more zip and accuracy.
Soyizwapi was the star of the show, and he opened the scoring in the second minute after an initial attack by playmaker Cecil Afrika.
Werner Kok spotted Soyizwapi on the outside and flung a long pass to the former Southern Kings fullback.
Not long after that, Dylan Sage and Zain Davids provided the momentum with powerful runs up the middle, and it was Sage who was involved again with a tap penalty and cut-out pass that resulted in Heino Bezuidenhout going over.
The South Africans weren’t done yet before halftime, as a mix-up between Nelson Oyoo and Jeffery Oluoch led to a knock-on on the Kenyan 22m line, and Soyizwapi pounced to grab his second five-pointer.
The Blitzboks looked out of sight at 17-0 at the break, although there was a brief flutter from the Kenyans as they capitalised on the South Africans not protecting the ball at a ruck in their own 22.
Samuel Oliech picked up the loose ball and fed stalwart Collins Injera to put Kenya on the board at 17-7.
Soyizwapi, though, ensured there were no dramas for the Blitzboks following a searing break by speedster Selvyn Davids, who also provided the scoring pass for his teammate.
Willy Ambaka, the former Western Province wing, was denied a try by Selvyn Davids as the TMO ruled the Kenyan was in touch, but Injera forced his way over right at the end to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
Points-Scorers
Blitzboks 24 – Tries: Siviwe Soyizwapi (3), Heino Bezuidenhout. Conversions: Cecil Afrika (2).
Kenya 12 – Tries: Collins Injera (2). Conversion: Samuel Oliech (1).
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