Blitzboks march into Cape Town quarters with 100% record

The Springbok Sevens team dispatched France 26-7 to clinch top spot in Pool A at the HSBC Cape Town Sevens and set up a quarter-final against Great Britain on Saturday night.

The Blitzboks had another strong defensive start to the match and when they created their first attacking opportunity in the fourth minute, Muller du Plessis not needing a second invitation as he beat the cover defence on the outside to score.

Ricardo Duarttee made it 7-0 with the conversion, but a minute later the scores were level when the game opened up and Stephen Parez Edo Martin scored under the posts.

Dalvon Blood, who came on for Siviwe Soyizwapi, made an immediate impact with a superb run, and France were penalised and yellow carded at the ensuing ruck inside their own 22.

From the penalty with a one-man advantage, the South Africans spread it wide and Blood scored in the corner, confirmed by the TMO, to make it 12-7 at the break.

France had their tails up early in the second half, with the Blitzboks conceding a number of ruck penalties, but the home team were on song defensively and after a turnover deep in their own half, Shilton van Wyk saw space at the back and scored his third chip-and-chase try of the weekend to make it 19-7.

Van Wyk got his second of the game - again from a kick into space, this time by Darren Adonis - to seal the result and top spot in Pool A for the Blitzboks, booking their place in the Cup quarter-finals for a third time during the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Scorers:

Springbok Sevens 26 (12) - Tries: Muller du Plessis, Dalvon Blood, Shilton van Wyk (2). Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (2), Branco du Preez.

France 7 (7) - Try: Stephen Parez Edo Martin. Conversion: Rayan Rebbadj.

Earlier in the day, the Blitzboks gave a big step towards booking their place in the quarter-finals with a brilliant 17-7 win over Fiji on a sunny and hot Saturday morning at the DHL Stadium.

It was a game of attrition on a scorcher of a day, with the action on the field just as hot as the stands filled up early.

Fiji started in the best way possible, scoring in the first minute after the Blitzboks dropped a pass inside their own half, with Joseva Talacolo going over for a converted try.

It took the hosts a few minutes to get their act together but when they did, two tries in as many minutes followed.

First Shilton van Wyk exploited space with a clever kick ahead and a minute later, Muller du Plessis scored from a tap-penalty without a hand being laid on him.

Ricardo Duarttee converted the second try and although the Blitzboks had a great opportunity to add a third before the break, they were bundled into touch, leading by 12-7 at the end of the first half.

The first five minutes of the second half was a real arm wrestle but the Blitzboks kept Fiji pinned in their own half before a great try by JC Pretorius, showing real strength in the tackle, all but sealed the deal for South Africa.

Some more good defence was needed to keep Fiji at bay, and the Blitzboks delivered to ensure they seal an important win on the second day of the tournament.

Scorers:

Springbok Sevens 17 (12) - Tries: Shilton van Wyk, Muller du Plessis, JC Pretorius. Conversion: Ricardo Duarttee.

Fiji 7 (7) - Try: Joseva Talacolo. Conversion: Waisea Nacuqu.