Rugby
Blitzboks end nine-year home-soil drought with Cape Town victory─── MORGAN PIEK 07:36 Mon, 09 Dec 2024
“This win is for every South African who has continued to support us. We have the best fans in the world, and hopefully, this marks the start of bigger things for the Blitzboks.”
The Springbok Sevens team ended their nine-year wait for a home-soil victory by winning the Cape Town 7s on Sunday.
They defeated Olympic champions France 26-14 in the final, securing their first title of the season and their first Cape Town win since 2015.
The Blitzboks delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament. En route to the final, they registered impressive victories against Ireland 36-7, Argentina 29-5, and Spain 19-12 in the semi-finals.
After the win in Green Point, Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman praised his team's effort and resilience. “It’s really great to see the players enjoy this win,” said Snyman.
Blitzboks. Photo: SA Rugby
“They are the real heroes of this weekend, playing for every squad member who couldn’t be on the field tonight.
“We are very happy with the win, especially since everyone in the squad worked extremely hard. I’m incredibly proud of how they played.”
Snyman highlighted two key areas the team focused on improving following last weekend’s tournament in Dubai.
‘More pressure on defence’
“We wanted to apply more pressure on defence, capitalise on turnover ball, and get the ball to our playmakers on the outside as quickly as possible,” Snyman added.
“We were very clinical, conceding only two tries on the first day, and stepped up to a higher gear on day two. Although we had slow starts in both the semi-final and final, the team showed immense character to come back and win. The players executed our plans to perfection this weekend, proving what we are capable of.”
Blitzboks and New Zealand. Photo: SA Rugby
In closing, the two-time Sevens World Series-winning captain dedicated the victory to their supporters. “This win is for every South African who has continued to support us. We have the best fans in the world, and hopefully, this marks the start of bigger things for the Blitzboks.”
The victory moves South Africa up to fourth place in the World Series standings, trailing Fiji, Spain, and France.
The Sevens World Series will take a break before resuming on January 24 with the Perth 7s in Australia.
