South Africa defended their title on home soil by beating current series holders New Zealand 26-17 in an enthralling final of the third round of the world sevens circuit on Sunday.
Australia saw off Argentina 34-19 for third place while the United States, coached by former England and Kenya tactician Mike Friday, stunned perennial stars Fiji 21-14 to win the Plate, or fifth place.
In the final, speedster Sherwin Stowers slid in for New Zealand’s first try after a mistake by the home side.
The ‘Boks hit back through a stepping Phil Snyman, playmaker Cecil Afrika crossing for his 112th try for the Blitzbokke soon after to hand South Africa a seven-point lead.
On the hooter, Afrika was shown yellow, and the Kiwis hit back to 12-10 after Joe Webber finished in the corner.
Seabelo Senatla, outstanding all weekend, scorched 50 metres for a try to open the scoring in the second period, Branco du Preez nailing a fine conversion.
Webber then stepped inside and out to keep things more than tense with five minutes left.
But then Senatla, Afrika, Kwagga Smith and Werner Kok were all involved before Smith was fed a brilliant pass to cross with 90 seconds left.
“It was an awesome game of rugby and physical to the death,” said South Africa skipper Kyle Brown.
“You couldn’t ask for anything more than to fight to victory on home soil.”
Oh please, it has nothing to do with being South African, it is a tendency he showed this weekend in PE that wasn't there in Dubai. It is called believing the hype. If you chose not to have seen it, then great for you.
Jacques
Guest
Aah yes, the typical South African approach to players. Once you have someone doing well, immediately pull them down with "words of caution", instead of praising our guys who out perform the opposition. Senatla has been one of the outstanding players this year and yet, we need to find chinks in his armour and focus on that. Why is that?
firstxv
Guest
That sort of decision making will just be removed by the numbers, which will be too compelling to ignore. The landscape is changing and if it has to be sped up with the popularity of 7's then so be it. Its an exciting period for SA rugby, the talent will soon be well ahead of everyone else in very short time and the Sxv coaches for one are missing out on huge opportunities by not tapping into it.
Firstxv
Guest
Does Cecil Afrika play 15 man at all? He's got the goods to fit in there somewhere surely
Yet it isn't going to happen if our coaches demand size all the time. Carr is an excellent example of a very classy forward, but because of his size he won't see much game time.
Firstxv
Guest
Well what was always going to happen was that the speed and flair was always going to come with the non white players in South African rugby. That is the key to their going to the top of the pile, and this is really only just the beginning. I see Sevens taking on massively in South Africa because of this, the Olympics, the fact that it's a team game that can be played on a marked ground with just a ball- even soccer needs a crossbar...That will inevitably flow into the 15's. I've always said the Bok side of the future will take the same path as the USA basketball side of the 60's.
Quotes no, but quotas I don't know ;)
richard
Guest
Johnson has been sounded out to see if he could make himself available,but it's highly unlikely to happen.I can't see the Warriors or the NZRL releasing him to play in the rival code.
nerval
Guest
He plays rugby league, not rugby union.
Bakkies
Guest
Johnson doesn't play Rugby.
Leon
Guest
is quotes still an excuse for the boks now?
Not at all times, but he missed a few opportunities to do so, I am worried that he is so focused on going for the tryline that he forgets other players may be in a better position than him to score
Taetjo
Guest
Is it some kind of requirement for players to offload at all times? He has passed and offloaded on a need-to basis from what I have seen. The OZ game was a tough one!
Harry Jones
Expert
Agree NOS--I think we have a deadly combination of agile, big, mongrel forwards with scorching speed in the backline, and tapping into all of southern Africa's talent pool is crucial
He made one offload against NZ, none against OZ.
Taetjo
Guest
I think he has made more than 5 off-loads in this series and most of them led to tries. He made off-loads to Kok and Kwagga a few times in these matches. The man simply has pace and is using it well. I think he is doing brilliantly.
Rugger
Guest
Apart from Pama Fou Aussie lack speed, ex-factor. When will ARU target youngsters to try 7s similar to what NZ and South Africa is doing. What current squad Australia is over-achieving if anything. Bring speed and ex-factor and get rid of some of the players who seem to be on thread mills.
Senatla needs to know he has support runners, he is fast becoming a glory runner, this weekend a number f tries went begging because h doesn't look for a support player. He made one offoad which was brilliantly picked up by Kyle. Other than that he doesn't like to pass. It actually started to irritate me at one point. He currently has his head in the clouds, time to come down to earth. He can be so much more of a rounded player.
Terrosilops
Guest
NZ will need weapons like Piutau, Ranger, Vito, Messam, SBW, Gear ... Shaun Johnson at the Olympics. If they want to win.
kunming tiger
Guest
The Americans have improved a lot. With some extra experience they could be big movers.