Paul Treu’s Sevens Springboks made their coach’s greatest rugby dream come true when they came from behind to beat New Zealand 12-7 in a tense IRB Sevens World Series final at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday.
The Springboks beat England in Dubai last weekend.
South Africa were weakened by the Super 14 call-ups of a number of stalwarts like Schalk van der Merwe, Fabian Juries, Jonothan Mokueana and the non-availability of Stefan Basson, Marius Schoeman and captain Neil Powell.
Mzwandile Stick, who led the team in the absence of the injured Powell, was once again outstanding in the final and scored the try that put the Boks ahead with less than two minutes remaining.
Robert Ebersohn received the Player of the Tournament award.
New Zealand started off in a frenzy after kicking off and scored the first try through their captain DJ Forbes after three minutes following pressure on the Boks’ line. The Kiwis, with their bigger players, initially played confrontational rugby in an effort to neutralise the Boks’ speed and to draw them into the breakdowns.
Then, with two and a half minutes to go, Gio Aplon broke the line with good stepping and Dazel won the 40m race against the pursuing New Zealanders to score.
It was a tactical battle with speed and aggression thrown into it, although it wasn’t always the free-running stuff wanted by so many.
The tension before the biggest Sevens crowd in South African history was nevertheless unbearable and a near-try by the Boks, preceded by a knock-on, gave the Kiwis some reprieve as the home side hammered their goal line.
But the Springboks — who had climbed into the rucks — got that elusive tighthead from the ensuing scrum, and Stick went over from a good break, converted and put the Boks 12-7 up with less than two minutes to play. – Sapa