The International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Sevens tournament took place at Outeniqua Park in George, but came into the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to the quality of refereeing.
The 12 000 spectators often vented their feelings about forward passes that weren’t picked up, as well as infringements at the breakdown.
In South Africa’s quarterfinal against Fiji, for example, Portuguese referee Rohan Hoffman missed a number of infringements in the build-up to one of the tries against the Springboks.
While coach Paul Treu believes his players had more than enough chances to win the game, he is concerned about some of the referees.
“I think referees will be among our biggest challenges going forward. I don’t criticise them at all, but rather the system as a bunch of young guys are being thrown in at the deep-end,” said Treu.
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South Africa’s Springbok Sevens team lost to England in the Plate final of the Emirates Airline George Sevens tournament in a game they would rather forget, ending the tournament on a low note.
The Bok Sevens side lost their first ever final of any sort to the English in the World Series history, but had the embarrassment of doing it in front of an extremely disappointed crowd to finish the same way they did at the Dubai Sevens.
Last week the Boks lost to Australia in the Plate final, and in front of a partisan crowd in George they were again out of sorts as England dismantled them relying on turnovers and speed to beat the World Series champs.
After this loss, the Blitsboks will need to find an answer to their own woes, after being exposed for a lack of speed and flair in both the first two tournaments thus far in the series.
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England have beaten the Springbok Sevens 22 - 19 in the semifinal of the USA tournament in San Diego on Monday morning and the two teams are sharing the lead at the top of the log in the IRB World Sevens Series table.
Argentina beat England 19-14 to take the Cup, their first success since 2004 when they also won in California.
SA and England lead the way with 60 points and they are 12 points clear of defending Series champions New Zealand.
South Africa lost a 12-0 lead against England and Paul Treu (SA coach) was understandably disappointed afterwards: We spoke long and hard after conceding a good lead last week against Kenya in Wellington, and it was very disappointing to do so again against England at Petco Park.
We have worked extremely hard to get us into good positions in both competitions and the reality is that we will have to show much more composure in the big games if we want to challenge for the Series title, explained Treu.
The team returns home on Wednesday and have just over a week to prepare for the Rugby World Cup which takes place early next month in Dubai. They leave next Friday for the desert city.
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South Africa beat Wales 26 - 12 on Saturday in the plate final of the Wellington Sevens Tournament in New Zealand with Wales leading 12 - 7 at halftime.
The Springbok Sevens collected eight valuable points for their effort, enough to keep them on top of the IRB World Sevens Series log with 48 points after three tournaments. England joined New Zealand in second spot with 44 point after their success in the Cup final.
England beat New Zealand 19-17 in a thrilling final to capture their first Wellington Sevens title.
South Africa, who lost to Kenya in the pool stages and New Zealand in Cup quarter-final, made a bright start when Frankie Horne collected a loose pass from Wales to run straight through (7-0). Wales hit back a minute later through a try by Craig Hill (7-5). Lee Williams then beat the cover defence to score Wales second try (12-7).
After the restart Vuyo Zangqa dotted down in the corner after a patient build-up from a set-piece to level the scores at 12-all. South Africa then produced probably their best second half performance of the tournament, keeping possession and displaying clinical finishing when needed. Renfred Dazel and Paul Delport scored in quick succession to secure the Plate for the Springbok Sevens.
Next week the teams will compete for the USA title in San Diego.
Source + Pic: sarugby.co.za
The South African Sevens team got off to a very good start by beating Scotland 24 - 0 today.
Ryno Benjamin ran in the first and the last try. Gio Aplan and Renford Dazel added to the four try victory by scoring one each. Renford Dazel and Mzwandile Stick each converted one try.
The tournament is being played at the Westpac Stadium, in Wellington, in fair weather.
In their second game the Springbok Sevens beat Tonga 22-5 after leading 17-5 at the break.
Renford Dazel, Paul Delport, Howard Noble and Philip Snyman each scored a try, while Renford Dazel was successful with a conversion.
South Africa plays Kenya in the last match of the Pool stage.
Source + Pic: sarugby.co.za
If Robert Ebersohn, who first represented South Africa with his talented twin brother, Sias (a flyhalf) at under-19 level, were to receive a call from Springbok Rugby Coach Peter de Villiers tomorrow asking him to join the Boks, he would choose to remain with the SA Sevens Team.
This talented young Free State centre, who was recently named the SA Young Player of the Year, was also crowned best player of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens Tournament in George on Saturday.
Not only was he one of the leading try scorers, but also defended like a man possessed, and on numerous occasions won turn over ball for his team.
The 19-year old took the decision not to make himself available for Super 14 rugby next year, and rather remain on the sevens circuit for another year, because he felt this would be best for his rugby career.
The Springbok coach, who attended the Sevens Tournament in George, said if he felt that if a player was good and mature enough, he wouldnt hesitate to call him up from the Sevens side to the Springboks.
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The Sevens Springboks of South Africa finally won the IRB Sevens World Series final at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday, by coming from behind and beating New Zealand 12 - 7.
“It was the first time South Africa had won the IRB tournament at home and also the first time that they had put two successive wins together. The Springboks beat England in Dubai last weekend.
It was a victory against all the odds, with South Africa 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 and the injured Marius Schoeman and captain Neil Powell.
Built on a solid defence and an unbelievable camaraderie and team spirit, the relatively inexperienced Springboks, lighter than their opponents in virtually every match defied all the odds — and are now clear leaders in the eight-tournament series.
Mzwandile Stick, who led the team in the absence of the injured Powell, was again outstanding in the final and scored the try that put the Boks ahead with less than two minutes remaining.
But hats off to every one of the players in this and the Dubai tournaments.
Robert Ebersohn received the Player of the Tournament award on saturday, but it might just as well have gone to any of Frankie Horn, Mpho Mbyozo, Stick or Renfred Dazel.
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