In a thrilling display of grit and determination, South Africa’s Blitzboks secured a spot in the Rugby Sevens semifinals at the Olympic Games in Paris by defeating top-ranked New Zealand 14-7 in a tense quarter-final match.
This victory came as a dramatic turnaround after their 17-5 loss to the same team in pool play on Wednesday.
The Blitzboks’ stunning performance at the Stade de France on Thursday ensured they will now be playing for a medal, much to the delight of their fans and supporters.
The decisive match saw team captain Selvyn Davids and Tristan Leyds score South Africa’s tries in quick succession during the first half, with Leyds successfully converting both.
Springbok Sevens interim head coach Philip Snyman was effusive in his praise for his team’s resilience and execution. “They deserve to be in the semi-finals, as they have executed and delivered everything I have asked from them today,” Snyman said.
Reflecting on their earlier loss to New Zealand, he noted, “We did not play poorly on day one, we just could not get our hands on the ball, but today was a different performance, a really inspiring one.”
The match against New Zealand was characterized by South Africa’s exceptional defensive effort.
“We needed to win big against Japan and scored seven well-worked tries, but against New Zealand, our defence was going to be crucial and I am so proud of how the guys responded,” Snyman added.
Davids’ try came from his remarkable pace, allowing him to exploit a gap and crash over the line. Leyds’ try, however, was a standout moment, originating from a counter-attack initiated by a turn-over ball on the Blitzboks’ tryline after a bout of stellar defence.
New Zealand managed to score a try by Moses Leo, converted by Andrew Knewstubb, just two minutes after the buzzer, setting the halftime score at 14-7.
The second half was a relentless display of New Zealand’s attacking prowess, but the Blitzboks’ defense held strong. Tackling with the tenacity of terriers, they repeatedly forced mistakes from their opponents, ultimately securing possession and sealing their best performance of the season.
Snyman revealed the motivational approach he used with his players. “Once we made it into the quarters, I told them to start believing that it is possible,” he explained.
“I had a good feeling about the ability of the side, so once we were into the last eight, it was time to remind them of that. This was such a great win, built on defence and workrate, while we struck when we needed to. In fact, we left another try or two out there. These guys deserve to contest for a medal, they showed that tonight.”
Looking ahead, the Blitzboks will face France in the semifinal, with the match scheduled for 15h30 on Saturday afternoon. This comes after a dominant performance against Japan earlier on Thursday, where South Africa triumphed 49-5 to secure their quarter-final spot.
The Blitzboks held a commanding 35-0 lead at halftime in their final Pool A match, scoring five tries in the first half and adding two more after the break.
Despite a minor setback when Japan launched a mini-comeback with their only try of the match early in the second half, South Africa’s determination saw them score two more tries. Rosko Specman, one of the try-scorers, emphasized the team’s focus and morale.
“Coach Philip (Snyman) asked us one thing in the change room and that was to get the joy back of playing for this team, the same joy we displayed in Monaco,” Specman said. “We had some ball to play with and it was joy all over. We are still in the tournament and that is a huge boost of confidence.”
With their eyes set firmly on a podium finish, the Blitzboks’ extraordinary journey in Paris continues, inspired by their unforgettable victory against New Zealand and driven by the belief in their potential to achieve Olympic glory.
