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Cape Town - Blitzbokke coach Paul Treu has paid tribute to his players after they won the their second
consecutive tournament in the Sevens World Series on Sunday, defeating
the All Black Sevens team 28-21 in the final of the Glasgow Sevens.
This victory follows a win in Tokyo last
month and makes South Africa the only team in the series to have won three
tournaments, following an earlier win in Las Vegas as well. All three their final wins came against the Kiwis.
The win could not stop New Zealand from winning the overall 2012/13 Sevens World Series, with South Africa set to finish second with one tournament left to go.
VIDEO: Blitzbokke v New Zealand, highlights
Fiji can still overhaul South Africa for second spot, providing they win the last tournament in London and the Blitzbokke fail to make the Cup quarter-finals.
Commenting on the win, Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu was quick to congratulate New Zealand for the series win.
“They were the most consistent team this year and that is why they are the overall champions, so it is well deserved to them,” said Treu.
With regards to his side’s tournament
victory, Treu had only plaudits.
“We arrived here without two of our playmakers (Branco du Preez and Cecil Afrika), but this just made the remaining players in the squad much more determined. We had to nurse a couple of players through this tournament, so it is very rewarding to see their hard work paying off.”
The final was a tense affair. The South Africans started well with a great try by Seabelo Senatla, but the Kiwis scored from the restart to even things out again. They then took the lead with a well-worked try (14-7) and at the half-time break, Treu’s team talk inspired the squad.
“The coach reminded us to what our strong points are and urged us to execute that. He asked us to play minute to minute doing what we do best. We did that and it worked for us,” captain Frankie Horne said afterwards.
This resulted in tries to Steven Hunt and Philip Snyman and when Cornal Henricks scored, it seemed as if the title was won.
A late try by New Zealand set up a classic finish with second to go, but the South African defence held and the title was theirs.
Earlier, they outclassed the United States in the Cup quarters, beating them 22-5. Chris Dry, Senatla (2) and Paul Delport all scored tries.
In the semi-final they faced England and again two breakaway tries by Senatla set-up the win. A Cornal Hendricks try secured a 24-17 win.
Results from the Glasgow Sevens tournament on Sunday, the eighth leg of the nine-round World Sevens Series:
Bowl quarter-finals
Samoa 17 Russia 14
Australia 36 Portugal 0
France 7 Kenya 22
Scotland 31 Spain 5
Cup quarter-finals
South Africa 22 United States 5
Fiji 12 England 15
Wales 26 Canada 7
New Zealand 42 Argentina 10
Shield semi-finals
Russia 41 Portugal 7
France 41 Spain 0
Bowl semi-finals
Samoa 12 Australia 17
Kenya 24 Scotland 19
Plate semi-finals
United States 22 Fiji 7
Canada 7 Argentina 22
Cup semi-finals
South Africa 24 England 17
Wales 14 New Zealand 26
Shield final
Russia 17 France 21
Bowl final
Australia 12 Kenya 5
Plate final
United States 17 Argentina 7
Third-place match
England 24 Wales 21
Cup final
South Africa 28 New Zealand 21
