Sevens
Fiji crush Blitzbokke
2011-11-26 09:48
South Africa's Paul Delport (Gallo Images)
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Herman MostertCape Town - Fiji have outplayed the Blitzbokke in the semi-finals of the Gold Coast Sevens at Skilled Park in Queensland.
The Islanders won 24-7, after leading 19-0 at the break.
Fiji completely dominated the first half as the South Africans struggled to get their hands on the ball.
Jimilai Naikadawa scored their first try early on, with Osea Kolinisau converting for a 7-0 advantage.
Kolinisau scored in the corner two minutes before the break after a concerted period of pressure to stretch the lead to 12-0.
Poor defence from the Blitzbokke then let Setefano Cakau in to score under the posts on the stroke of half-time. Vucago converted for a 19-0 advantage.
Emosi Vucago scored early in the second half to kill off the game as a contest, stretching Fiji's lead to 24-0.
The South Africans did, however, show some fight midway through the second period as they finally got some sort of possession to work with. They should have scored midway through the half when Bernardo Botha made a good break but reserve back Steven Hunt knocked the ball on with an open goal-line ahead.
But they were finally rewarded for their fighting spirit a minute later when Chris Dry scored with a minute left. Dry has scored six tries at this tournament.
Renfred Dazel converted converted to give some respectability to the 24-7 scoreline.
All is not lost for South Africa though, as they will now play Australia in the 3rd place playoff - the first ever 3rd/4th place playoff match in the Sevens World Series.
Fiji will play New Zealand in the final after the New Zealanders earlier beat hosts, Australia, 26-7 in their semi-final.
Results on Saturday on the second day of the Gold Coast Sevens:Bowl
Quarter-finalsUnited States 24, Papua New Guinea 5
Scotland 36, Niue 0
Argentina 38, Japan 12
Tonga 7, Kenya 5
Semi-finalsArgentina 24, Tonga 15
Scotland 19, United States 5
FinalArgentina vs. Scotland
ShieldSemi-finalsJapan 19, Kenya 14
Papua New Guinea 38, Niue 0
FinalJapan vs. Papua New Guinea
PlateSemi-finalsSamoa 17, England 14
Wales 14, France 12
FinalSamoa vs. Wales
CupQuarter-finalsNew Zealand 24, England 14
Australia 14, Samoa 12
Fiji 33, Wales 5
South Africa 14, France 5
Semi-finalsNew Zealand 26, Australia 7
Fiji 24, South Africa 7
Bronze playoffAustralia vs. South Africa
FinalNew Zealand vs. Fiji