South Africa 28 - USA 10
Cape Town - The Springboks Sevens team didn’t have a perfect start against the USA like they did against Russia earlier today, but they managed to pull it together in fine style a minute or two in to walk away with a victory.
The Americans looked dangerous early on and occupied the South Africans’ red zone for quite a while, and it paid off as they drew first blood to take the early lead.
The Blitzboks regrouped, however, and again resembled the team that reigned in Dubai.
The USA struck first when pacey Maka Unufe greeted the whitewash after being beautifully put into space by his team mates (0-5).
But a few seconds later, the Blitzboks responded after World Sevens Player of the Year Seabelo Senatla won a foot race and booted the ball forward for the South Africans’ leading points scorer Cecil Afrika to finish off and cross over for the try (7-5)
After a hot attacking period in the 22 a short while later, busy Blitzbok Werner Kok went over to stretch their lead (14-5).
Shortly after the break, Senatla did what he does best when he dotted down in the left hand corner to give the Blitzboks an even bigger upper hand (21-5).
In the second stanza the USA again opened the scoring through Danny Barrett, but South African workhorse Werner Kok ran a brilliant line to close the deal for the Blitzboks (28-10).
South Africa on take on Australia in the last fixture of the day at 7:56 pm.
Points scorers: South Africa - Tries: Cecil Afrika, Seabelo Senatla, Werner Kok (2). Conversions: Branco du Preez (3), Justin Geduld (1). USA: Tries: Maka Unufe, Danny Barrett