The Daily Dispatch E-Edition

Blitzboks blown away by Kiwis in Sydney final

Earlier in an impressive victory, the team dismantled Fiji 31-12 in the semifinals

BRENDEN NEL — Supersport.com

It was a game too far for the Springbok Sevens team as they were thrashed 38-0 by New Zealand in the Sydney Sevens final on Sunday.

While they were full of fire when they beat Fiji in the semifinal, it was a different story in the final as they looked tired and were bossed around at the breakdowns by the Kiwi side, fell off tackles and just generally looked listless after a long weekend in the tournament.

It was the first time in living memory that they went scoreless in a game against their archrivals and even the staunchest Blitzbok supporter will have to admit there was only one team in the contest.

Add to this fumbles and handling errors, just a general lack of pace against a team that was just the opposite and this was a one-way final in every sense of the word.

There is no sugarcoating this, the loss was probably the worst in an era of Blitzbok rugby where they failed to fire a shot and were not in the contest at any given time.

Luckily, it was the final and not in the group stages.

The Blitzboks will still collect a bunch of points from the tournament and will have to forget about the unanswered six tries as quickly as possible before they head to the next tournament in Los Angeles.

Joe Webber was the welldeserved player of the final and scored New Zealand’s second try.

The others on the scoreboard were Roderick Solo, Sam Dickson, Akuila Rokolisoa, Amanaki Nicole and Ngahori Mcgarveyblack.

The All Blacks now lead the series with 85 points, nine ahead of SA on 76.

Earlier, in stark contrast to their dismal performance in the final, an incredible defensive effort produced one of the most impressive victories for the Blitzboks in their history, as they dismantled Fiji 31-12 in the semifinals on Sunday.

A brace of tries each for Shilton van Wyk and Jaiden Baron was the elixir needed as the Blitzboks gave Fiji almost no room at all and pounced on their mistakes to book their place in the showpiece game.

Aware of the big Fijian runners, they were in their faces and allowed them no space, and when they had the opportunity, they pounced.

Van Wyk’s first try came from a clever pullback of the pass by Ricardo Duartee to wait for the perfect moment for the winger to come through at the angle.

Pinning Fiji in their own 22, the mistake then came again and it was Dalvon Blood who swooped in at the corner for the second try.

Baron got in on the scoresheet after Duartee took a quick penalty tap and sent the ball inside to flummox the defence.

Leading 17-0 at the break, the Blitzboks knew the Fijians would come back at them, but lenient refereeing allowed Fiji to get away with two big headhigh hits that when replays are reviewed, would have been automatic red cards.

Iowane Teba got Fiji onto the board with a try early in the second half and with four minutes to go, the big Fijian-supporting crowd hoped this would be their comeback.

But more pressure and a dropped pass and kick through by Darron Adonis, who won the subsequent chase to dive onto the ball in the dead ball area, sealed the game as a contest. A minute later, a wild pass by Fiji in their own 22 floated into the hands of Van Wyk, who could not have had an easier run-in for his second try.

Vida Naduvalo scored a consolation try after the final whistle, but it was all over as a contest by then.

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2023-01-30T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-30T08:00:00.0000000Z

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