Senatla secures Blitzboks SF spot in Dubai

Cape Town - The Blitzboks continue to impress in the first Sevens World Series event of the season after they beat Samoa 26-10 in Saturday's first Cup quarter-final. 

It was no surprise that Seabelo Senatla was the first man on the scoresheet in just the second minute as he rounded off a South African attack that had started with a Cecil Afrika interception. 

Samoa, though, hit back immediately when Faalemiga Selesele went over in the right corner after the Blitzboks had slipped a few tackles. 

Senatla had his second when a piece of individual brilliance saw him step his way around two Samoan defenders and score under the posts. 

That gave the Blitzboks a 12-5 lead going into half-time.

Samoa struck first after the restart as Alamanda Motuga barged his way over down the right, but with the conversion going wide the Blitzboks still led 12-10. 

Werner Kok then scored South Africa's third, and when Afrika's conversion went over the champions had a comfortable 19-10 lead. 

With the Blitzboks bench giving Neil Powell's men some fresh legs, Tim Agaba went over for the fourth that put the game to bed.

On Friday, the Blitzboks cruised through their pool with victories over Uganda, Kenya and Canada. 

They will now meet Fiji in Saturday's semi-final. That match will take place at 14:19 (SA time).

Scorers:

SA

Tries: Seabelo Senatla (2), Werner Kok, Tim Agaba

Conversions: Branco du Preez, Cecil Afrika (2)

Samoa

Tries: Faalemiga Selesele, Alamanda Motuga