The Blitzboks powered into the Cup final of the Dubai Sevens after cruising to a 40-0 win over New Zealand, followed by a 36-5 win over Wales, on Saturday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
In the Blitzboks' opening game of day two, they produced a performance of supreme class to overpower the Kiwis, and they backed that up with another emphatic effort in their semi-final against Wales.
During the opening stanza against Wales, it once again turned out to be the Seabelo Senatla show as he wrapped up a hat-trick of tries before the break, taking his tally at the tournament to a whopping 10.
Leading 19-0 heading into the second half, coach Neil Powell understandably made a number of early changes to the side with an eye on the final, but the tries continued to pour in as Justin Geduld dotted down next.
Ethan Davies did manage to score one consolation try for Wales, but the Springbok Sevens side ensured they'd have the final say as Werner Kok and Geduld were put away to score late in the game.
Earlier on, the Blitzboks' quarter-final was also effectively won in the opening stanza as they ran in three unanswered tries, but again it was their impressive suffocating defence and strong breakdown work that contributed considerably to their win.
Although the Blitzboks went through day one unbeaten, they still weren't quite at their best, but they turned on the style in a first half where they enjoyed a surfeit of possession.
Cecil Afrika scored as early as the first minute, while Senatla dotted down soon after for his seventh try of the tournament, which opened up a handy buffer at the outset.
Just before the break, former captain Kyle Brown extended the Bitzboks' advantage with a well-taken try after pouncing on a loose ball from an All Blacks lineout.
At 19-0, the game was as good as won, and Chris Dry piled on the punishment when he went over to score under the posts with less than three minutes remaining.
But the Blitzboks weren't done just yet, and as the clock wound down, Justin Geduld and Werner Kok cruised over to dot down and complete a resounding rout of their traditional rivals.
The Springbok Sevens will now face reigning champs Fiji in the final.
Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
