Argentina, Australia crowned champions as sun sets on 2023 Cape Town Sevens

RESULT 

Ireland 7-14 Fiji

Fiji win the 3rd/4th place playoff in a tight affair. 

More misery for Blitzboks after heavy loss to New Zealand in 5th place playoff  

The Springbok Sevens side ended their Cape Town SVNS campaign on a disappointing note when they lost 31-7 to New Zealand in the 5th place playoff on Sunday.  

The Blitzboks entered the contest desperate to impress after losing 28-0 to Australia in the Cup quarter-finals earlier in the day.

The South Africans also lost 14-12 to Ireland in their final pool game on Saturday night.   But they suffered more agony in a hapless display against New Zealand.  

The Kiwis started like a house on fire and bagged two early tries.

First on the scoreboard was the powerful Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, who barged over in the second minute.  

A minute later, Cody Vai dotted down after collecting a clever back-flip pass from veteran Tim Mikkelson (10-0).  

The Blitzboks were boosted when New Zealand’s Vai received a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle on Rosko Specman.  

But the hosts failed to capitalise on their one-man advantage and went into the half-time break trailing 10-0.  

Ronald Brown side-stepped his way over for South Africa’s first try early in the second half.  

Justin Geduld's conversion made the score 10-7 with five minutes remaining.  

But New Zealand hit back quickly when Vai rounded off a brilliant individual effort which saw him sprint from close to halfway.  

Tepaea Cook Savage's conversion made it 17-7 to New Zealand with three minutes left.  

New Zealand sealed the contest when Sione Molia rounded off a brilliant team try that started on their own goal-line.  

The Kiwis rubbed salt into South African wounds when Akuila Rokolisoa scored after the hooter to end a miserable day to the hosts.

Scorers:  

SA 7 (0)  

Try: Ronald Brown

Conversion: Justin Geduld  

NZ 31 (10)  

Tries: Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Cody Vai (2), Sione Molia, Akuila Rokolisoa

Conversion: Tepaea Cook Savage (2), Rokolisoa

- Herman Mostert

FULL-TIME

Akuila Rokolisoa scores at the hooter as South Africa go down 7-31 New Zealand

South Africa finish sixth in the Cape Town SVNS

'13 - TRY

The Blitzboks look defeated as Sione Molia easily scores New Zealand's fourth try. New Zealand extend their lead with a minute left in the fifth-place off.

SA 7-24 NZ

10' - TRY

It's New Zealand this time as Cody Vai sprints ahead of the Blitzboks defence to score under the posts.

SA 7-17 NZ

'9 - TRY

Ronald Brown delights as he gets the Blitzboks over the whitewash with Justin Geduld converting to see South Africa trailing by three.

SA 7-10 NZ

HALF-TIME 

South Africa 0-10 New Zealand

'3 - TRY

Blitzboks defense is getting exposed as Cody Vai scores immediately after and sees NZ extend their lead in the first half

SA 0-10 NZ

2'- TRY

Ngarohi McGarvey-Black opens the scoring for New Zealand with a try.

SA 0-5 NZ

Men's Cup semi-final results:

Argentina 26-19 Ireland

Australia 24-7 Fiji

RESULT:

The SA Women have lost 21-7 to Spain in the 11th place playoff.

Blitzboks' home dreams in tatters after heavy loss to Australia

The Springbok Sevens side suffered a heavy 28-0 defeat to Australia in the Cup quarter-finals of the Cape Town SVNS on Sunday.

It was complete and utter domination by Australia as they shattered South Africa's hopes with a four-try demolition.

The Blitzboks hadn't won their home event since 2015 and this result means they'll have to wait another year.

The hosts were never in the game as the Australians attacked from the get-go.

South Africa did well early on to fend off Australia despite having Quewin Nortje in the sin-bin.

However, Australia's relentless pressure eventually told as tries by Hayden Sargeant and Nathan Lawson gave them a 14-0 half-time lead. 

Australia continued their domination in the second stanza as Dietrich Roache scored before Lawson added his second try.

The Blitzboks never came close to troubling the scorers and will feel deflated by this performance. 

The South Africans will now play New Zealand in the 5th place playoff later on Sunday (16:52). The Kiwis lost 36-21 to Ireland in their Cup quarter-final.

Scorers:  

SA 0 (0)  

Australia 28 (14)  

Tries: Hayden Sargeant, Nathan Lawson (2), Dietrich Roache  

Conversions: Maurice Longbottom (3), Roache

- Herman Mostert

Another Blitzboks knock-on just about sums up the home team's day... this has been complete domination by Australia, who boot it out to end the game.

Nathan Lawson is over in the corner for Australia's fourth try!

The conversion makes it 28-0.

With 4 minutes remaining, it's all Australia as they camp deep inside Blitzboks territory.

21-0.

Just after the break, Dietrich Roache crosses for Australia's third try.

It's 21-0 to the visitors.

TRY to Australia!

2'- A strong start by Australia as they camp deep in SA territory.

Also a yellow card for SA's Quewin Nortje.

Ireland have made a massive statement with a 36-21 win over New Zealand in the Cup quarter-finals.

Next up is South Africa v Australia...

FULL-TIME

The Springbok Sevens Women go down 27-7 to Japan in their 9th-place playoff.

They now play the 11th-place playoff against Spain (12:22).

Blitzboks go down to Ireland to finish 2nd in Pool A

The Blitzboks went down 14-12 to Ireland in the final match of the opening day of the Cape Town SVNS on Saturday night.  

Both teams had already qualified for the Cup quarter-finals, but the result sees Ireland finish on top of Pool A.  

Springbok Sevens speedster Rosko Specman opened the scoring in the third minute when he rounded off in the corner.

It was set up by strong breaks from Quewin Nortje and Ryan Oosthuizen.  

But the Irish responded a couple of minutes later when Gavin Mullin pounced on a chip over the top to score under the posts.  

Hugo Lennox converted to put Ireland 7-5 ahead.  

Mullin then bagged his second try just before the break when he barged over after a solid scrum by Ireland. Lennox's conversion put Ireland 14-5 ahead at half-time.  

The Blitzboks threatened early in the second stanza, but resolute Irish defence kept them at bay for large parts.  

The hosts, though, kept probing and got a sniff when Dewald Human scored under the posts with less than a minute to go.  

Human converted to make it 12-14 and there was time left for one more kick-off.  

But Ireland did well to win the restart before booting it out to take the victory.  

Earlier on Saturday, the Blitzboks beat Great Britain 19-5 and the USA 26-14.  

South Africa will now play Australia in the Cup quarter-finals at 11:18 on Sunday.

Scorers:  

SA 12 (5)  

Tries: Rosko Specman, Dewald Human

Conversion: Human  

Ireland 14 (14)  

Tries: Gavin Mullin (2) Conversions: Hugo Lennox (2)

- Herman Mostert

FULL-TIME

South Africa 12-14 Ireland

'14 - TRY

Dewald Human scores with one minute left and he also converts, but the Blitzboks are two points behind with not much time left.

SA 12-14 IRE

7' - TRY

Mullin scores again, this time he grinds it out to extend Ireland's lead. Lennox converts the try.

HALF-TIME SA 5-14 IRE

6' - TRY

Gavin Mullin replies with a try of his own under the posts, while Hugo Lennox converts the try to put Ireland ahead.

SA 5-7 IRE

4'- TRY

Rosko Specman scores in the corner to get the Blitzboks on the board, Justin Geduld fails to convert

SA 5-0 IRE

SA WOMEN'S REACTION

SA Women's coach Renfred Dazel says the players are gutted after losing all three of their games on Saturday.  

"We started off really well in the first half against France and we didn't play to our strengths in the second half. And I think that that's where everything went pear-shaped for us.

"But I think overall it's always going to be a challenge coming into Cape Town, playing back-to-back girls, they haven't done it.  

"So, it was always going to be a challenge and we also need to look at the injuries that took place in Dubai with Zintle (Mpupha) and Libbie (Janse van Rensburg). We'll have a serious look at what we need to change for tomorrow."  

Dazel admitted the players found it tough dealing with the expectations of playing at home.

"I think overall, even if you look at the men where they are, it's always challenging playing in front of your home crowd. You're coming in here with hype and expectation to win tournaments and do well. There's this pressure coming into Cape Town and some of our girls haven't had this before so there's a lot of work ahead of us in the future.

"I think the positive for us is obviously our set piece. I think we can give credit to the girls, especially in scrum time and lineouts, we hang onto the ball. The problem is just how we execute, which we'll be working on for tomorrow."

RESULT:

The SA Women's horror day continued after they lost 34-0 to the USA.

Earlier, the South Africans lost 40-0 to Canada and 29-7 to France.

Blitzboks floor USA to seal Cup quarter-final berth

The Springboks Sevens side overcame a plucky USA in their second match of the HSBC Cape Town SVNS on Saturday afternoon.  

The Blitzboks won 26-14 (half-time 14-0) to secure their spot in Sunday's Cup quarter-finals.  

But the hosts had to fight off a stern fightback from the Americans, who levelled matters at 14-14 in the second half.   

Both teams had early chances to score but solid defending by both outfits kept the score at 0-0.  

The deadlock was broken when Ryan Oosthuizen scored in the sixth minute after brilliantly collecting a chip kick over the USA defence.  

Oosthuizen narrowly avoided touching the dead-ball line, but replays showed he dotted down just in time.  

Rosko Specman then scored on the stroke of half-time after a strong breakout from deep inside SA territory (14-0).  

Early in the second half, the hosts lost Justin Geduld to a yellow card for a high tackle.  

The Americans capitalised on their one-man advantage when Lucas Lacamp scored two tries in quick succession.  

Suddenly, the scores were level at 14-14 with four minutes left.  

The Blitzboks were eager to respond to the double blow and they piled pressure on the USA in the final stages.  

The USA defended gallantly but the dam wall broke when Impi Visser scored near the corner with just over a minute left.  

There was still time for a restart and the Blitzboks pounced when Ronald Brown scooped on a loose ball to score under the posts.  

Earlier on Saturday, the South Africans beat Great Britain 19-5 in their opening game.  

Their final Pool A game is against Ireland at 19:34 on Saturday. That game will determine the winner of the pool.

Scorers:  

SA 26 (14)

Tries: Ryan Oosthuizen, Rosko Specman, Impi Visser, Ronald Brown Conversions: Justin Geduld (2), Brown  

USA 14 (0)

Tries: Lucas Lacamp (2)

Conversions: Madison Hughes (2)

- Herman Mostert

FULL-TIME

Ronald Brown scores at the hooter, the Blitzboks win 26-14.

TRY

Impi Visser crosses the whitewash as he gets space on outside with Geduld converting the try.

TRY

Lucas Lucamp scores a double as the USA levels the score against the Blitzboks. Both tries are converted.

TRY!

Rosco Specman scores under the posts after a breakout from deep inside South African territory.

TRY!

Rosco Specman scores under the posts after a breakout from deep inside South African territory.