Publications
Partners
Herman Mostert
Cape Town - The Blitzbokke have reached the semi-finals of the Gold Coast Sevens after beating France 14-5 in their quarter-final at Skilled Park in Queensland.
Fixtures and results at the Gold Coast Sevens
South Africa - who went into the game without dynamic playmaker Cecil Afrika who injured his ribs on Friday - led 7-0 at half-time.
France dominated the early proceedings and camped inside the South Africans' 22m area for much of the first five minutes.
But the Blitzbokke's defence held firm and they pounced on their first opportunity in French territory when Chris Dry scored - his 5th try of the tournament - in the sixth minute. Renfred Dazel converted to give the men in green and gold a 7-0 lead just before half-time.
They kept that lead going into the break, albeit a bit fortuitously as the French were unlucky not to be awarded a try on the stroke of half-time when Samoan referee Tui Komiti called them back for a forward pass.
The South Africans came out firing in the second half and Free State centre Robert Ebersohn rounded off after a good few minutes of concerted pressure. (12-0) Mark Richards converted for a 14-0 lead with two minutes remaining.
Terry Bouhraoua scored a consolation try right at the death for the French but it was too little too late as the Blitzbokke claimed a 14-5 victory.
South Africa will now play Fiji (9:18 SA time) in the semi-finals on Saturday. Fiji earlier thrashed Wales 33-5 in their quarter-final.
Cape Town - The Blitzbokke have reached the semi-finals of the Gold Coast Sevens after beating France 14-5 in their quarter-final at Skilled Park in Queensland.
Fixtures and results at the Gold Coast Sevens
South Africa - who went into the game without dynamic playmaker Cecil Afrika who injured his ribs on Friday - led 7-0 at half-time.
France dominated the early proceedings and camped inside the South Africans' 22m area for much of the first five minutes.
But the Blitzbokke's defence held firm and they pounced on their first opportunity in French territory when Chris Dry scored - his 5th try of the tournament - in the sixth minute. Renfred Dazel converted to give the men in green and gold a 7-0 lead just before half-time.
They kept that lead going into the break, albeit a bit fortuitously as the French were unlucky not to be awarded a try on the stroke of half-time when Samoan referee Tui Komiti called them back for a forward pass.
The South Africans came out firing in the second half and Free State centre Robert Ebersohn rounded off after a good few minutes of concerted pressure. (12-0) Mark Richards converted for a 14-0 lead with two minutes remaining.
Terry Bouhraoua scored a consolation try right at the death for the French but it was too little too late as the Blitzbokke claimed a 14-5 victory.
South Africa will now play Fiji (9:18 SA time) in the semi-finals on Saturday. Fiji earlier thrashed Wales 33-5 in their quarter-final.
