OWN CORRESPONDENT, Hong Kong | Friday 2.20pm.
LOWLY Chinese Taipei came within a whisker of scoring a stunning upset against mighty South Africa at the Hong Kong Sevens on Friday, going down 21-19 after a second-half comeback.
The Chinese Taipei team fought back from 21-0 down to give the starless Springbok side the fright of their lives in the two teams’ Pool E game at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Only a last-gasp conversion miss from Chang Wei-chang prevented the Asian minnows from grabbing a draw against the shell-shocked South Africans, runners up in the Sevens World Cup in 1997.
South Africa appeared to be on course for a straightforward win when the pacy Jeffrey Stevens crossed twice in the first half to push his side 14-0 ahead.
A try from Warren Britz shortly after halftime made it 21-0 and the South Africans looked to be cruising.
But Chinese Taipei – bolstered by the presence of tough-tackling South Pacific islanders Suliano Wanivanua and Sikeli Votonisoga – launched a stirring fightback.
Wanivanua sparked his side’s comeback with a try to make it 21-7. Lin Lu-fung crashed over for his side’s second and in the dying seconds Wang Kuo-feng brought the underdogs to 21-19.
But Chang’s conversion attempt fell wide and short and South Africa, who face France and Croatia in their remaining pool games Saturday, were off the hook. –AFP