Sport

SEVENS WONDER

Blitzboks back on top of World Series despite London frustration

Blitzboks back on top of World Series despite London frustration
Jordan Hendrikse of South Africa in action against Ireland on day two of the HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham in on Sunday, 29 May 2022. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini / Gallo Images)

The Springbok Sevens team could secure their fifth World Series title in Los Angeles in August after moving back to the top of the 2022 standings.

The Blitzboks edged closer to retaining their HSBC World Sevens Series title after finishing fifth in the London leg at the weekend, but it was another frustrating tournament for the injury-ravaged squad.

One tournament in the 2022 World Series remains, with South Africa in first position with 124 points, followed by Australia (122) – who ended up winning the tournament at Twickenham after beating the Blitzboks in the Cup quarterfinals – and Argentina (118).

Any one of the three could be crowned World Series winners, but it will have to wait until August. The final leg takes place in Los Angeles in 88 days, but between now and then South Africa and Australia will also compete in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July.

South Africa put in a much-improved performance in London and went unbeaten on Saturday as they secured their quarterfinal berth for the following day, scraping past Argentina (26-19), Ireland (19-12) and Kenya (24-21).

Ronald Brown of South Africa on the move against Australia during the HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham on Sunday, 29 May 2022. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini / Gallo Images)

But the Blitzboks went down 21-17 to Australia in the quarterfinals on day two, which meant the best they could do was end fifth – which is what they achieved.

“There is frustration, especially after day one where we played well,” said coach Neil Powell.

“We lost concentration against Australia at crucial times and that cost us, basically. The players need to understand the big moments in a game and how to play those correctly. If you don’t, like we did today, you will not be successful.

“We made two such mistakes against Australia and it cost us 14 points, and ultimately the game. We need to tell the players where they made mistakes – if not, they will not learn from those.”

The Blitzboks’ Branco du Preez squares up to an Australian player on day two of the HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham on 29 May 2022. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini / Gallo Images)

After winning all three pool matches, there was an air of positivity, especially as Argentina – series leaders going into London – failed to qualify for the cup quarterfinals.

“It was a good day, results-wise, for us,” said captain Siviwe Soyizwapi after day one.

“There is always something to work on; we never have a perfect game and today was another example of that. We made some mistakes, but we did come out to make ourselves and the jersey proud and we achieved that, I feel,” he said after his side’s three victories on Saturday.

Powell, who was particularly disheartened after the previous week’s result in Toulouse, where the Blitzboks failed to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in nine years, applauded his side’s unbeaten group-stage phase.

“To put away a very competitive Argentina side in the first game, then outplay Ireland in the second game and beat a charged-up Kenya was rewarding,” he said.

The Blitzboks run on for their clash with Ireland on the first day of the HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham on Saturday, 28 May 2022. (Photo: David van der Sandt / Gallo Images)

A noticeable improvement in the Blitzboks’ game was their improved discipline from their disappointing result in Toulouse a week ago.

“The different results today from last weekend were because we went back to that system. Last week we were guilty of not doing so. We saw the result. We went back today to what works for us and the results are there,” said Soyizwapi.

“The effort was there last week; the implementation of our roles was not there. We changed that. We were far from perfect, but we laid a good foundation today.”

Perspective

The squad left for the European leg of the sevens circuit rejuvenated after a month spent recuperating mentally and physically. However, disaster struck just before their departure.

“We had a tough tour and it started off badly with Selvyn Davids ruled out on the morning of our departure to France, but apart from that we also need to look at ourselves and why we are making mistakes under pressure,” said Powell.

The coach was able to put the London leg in perspective as the sevens circuit now takes a three-month break before the final leg: “We won five and lost one, as did Australia, who won the tournament. The margin at this level is so small. We made two mistakes in six matches and finished fifth.”

The Blitzboks regrouped after their loss to Australia to record wins over Spain (24-12) and Ireland (14-5) to secure fifth place in London.

The 13 points gained from the London tournament moved the South Africans back to the top of the 2022 World Series log after being pushed into second following the Toulouse leg.

The South African side prepare to face Ireland at Twickenham during the HSBC London Sevens on Saturday, 28 May 2022. (Photo by David van der Sandt / Gallo Images)

They started the London event two points behind Argentina, but with the South Americans unable to get out of the pool for the cup competition, South Africa reclaimed the lead they held since the opening tournaments in Dubai in December.

“Not everyone is in the same boat,” said Powell. “We have three tournaments left (Los Angeles, the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup) and will plan around that. Argentina, for example, will not be part of the Commonwealth Games, so their focus will be different to ours.

“It is going to be an interesting time until September, with the Commonwealth Games in July, the last World Series event in August and the Rugby World Cup Sevens in September.”

Australia position for first title

In a trans-Tasmanian clash for the London title at Twickenham, Australia beat New Zealand for the first time in a cup final in 20 years, winning 19-14 after extra time.

The hero of the match was Henry Paterson. The deceptively quick forward scored a hat-trick, including the match-winner as he dived over in the corner in sudden death during extra time.

The final was a rematch of their opening game of the weekend when New Zealand defeated the Aussies 24-19. That was the last loss of the weekend for the Australia Sevens team as the cup final victory capped a brilliant tournament for the side from Down Under.

The young Australian squad beat the Blitzboks in the quarterfinals and Samoa (28-14) in the semifinals en route to the final. DM

 

[hearken id=”daily-maverick/9588″]

Gallery

Comments - Please in order to comment.

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

X

This article is free to read.

Sign up for free or sign in to continue reading.

Unlike our competitors, we don’t force you to pay to read the news but we do need your email address to make your experience better.


Nearly there! Create a password to finish signing up with us:

Please enter your password or get a sign in link if you’ve forgotten

Open Sesame! Thanks for signing up.

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options

Become a Maverick Insider

This could have been a paywall

On another site this would have been a paywall. Maverick Insider keeps our content free for all.

Become an Insider

Every seed of hope will one day sprout.

South African citizens throughout the country are standing up for our human rights. Stay informed, connected and inspired by our weekly FREE Maverick Citizen newsletter.