The Team South Africa Sevens side, with captain Selvyn Davids at the forefront, produced one of the all-time great defensive efforts to beat New Zealand 14-7 in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Davids scored the Blitzboks’ first try, before assisting their second with beautiful footwork. Tristan Leyds scored down the second try and converted both tries for the Blitzboks.
But it was Davids’ defensive effort - with New Zealand smelling blood on the Blitzboks’ goalline - that will forever be remembered.
New Zealand scored just before halftime to make the score 14-7 and went all out in the second half to get the score to level matters. But the Blitzboks wouldn’t budge.
Davids made two or three unbelievable try-saving tackles in the space of seconds, as the Blitzboks kept the Kiwis away from their goalline before they spilt the ball and the South Africans could clear.
What a day in Paris for the #Blitzboks - two from two and they are into the medal matches of the #Olympics after knocking NZ out in the quarters - more here: https://t.co/9811hNtub1 ⚡⚡#PoweredByUnity #PARIS2024📷 pic.twitter.com/6CRZJluwiL
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) July 25, 2024
The Blitzboks also managed to hold on in the last few minutes, with their scrambling defence showing that old-fashioned South African grit that we so often associate with the Springboks.
It was a stunning effort built on heart and no less on the lessons that was handed out to this team on Wednesday when they went down to both New Zealand and Ireland on Day 1 of pool play.
Now both Ireland and New Zealand are out of the tournament ...
But they came back to the Stade de France, pumped Japan to get into the quarters and then beat the old enemy New Zealand to give them a chance of an unlikely medal.
The Blitzboks will now play France in the semi-finals on Saturday, after the hosts beat the much-fancied Argentina in their semi-final.
Point-scorers
South Africa 14 – Tries: Selvyn Davids, Tristan Leyds. Conversions: Leyds (2).
New Zealand 7 – Try: Moses Leo. Conversion: Andrew Knewstubb (1).
Semi-finals:
France vs South Africa
Fiji vs Australia
@JohnGoliath82