Cape Town Sevens: BlitzBoks fight back to sink Fiji
The BlitzBoks will now face New Zealand in the Cup quarterfinals, with Canada and Argentina taking on each other in the other semifinal.
Cup quarterfinals:
South Africa 31-26 Fiji
Fiji looked like men possessed in the opening few minutes and they opened the scoring with a penalty try. They were also given an advantage when Seabelo Senatla was sent to the sin bin for foul play.
Fiji doubled their lead soon after, before the BlitzBoks hit back with a Werner Kok try.
Fiji scored a third try with another powerful run and the BlitzBoks finished the half with a Justin Geduld try. At half-time, Fiji were leading 21-12.
The BlitzBoks were the first to score in the second half with a Seabelo Senatla try, before Fiji made a big response with a try themselves with a nice build-up from the restart.
Albertus Smith brought the BlitzBoks closer with a try and with just two minutes left, South Africa were only two points behind.
The BlitzBoks then took the lead with a minute to go when Senatla pounced on a loose ball to run in for a try. In the end, the BlitzBoks won 31-26.
Interview: @SmithKwagga spoke to us after the @Blitzboks late win over Fiji #CapeTown7s pic.twitter.com/PpMj6Dv4QX
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 10, 2017
England 12-17 New Zealand
There was nothing to choose between the sides at the end of the first half.
Both sides scored a try in the first half with only a missed conversion separating the two sides with England leading 7-5 at the break.
England started well and they extended their lead with another try.
However, New Zealand scored two tries in the final stages of the game to eventually win 17-12.
Canada 35-7 France
Canada continued their fine form in Cape Town when they ran in three converted tries to lead 21-0 at the break.
Canada scored another two tries in the second half with France getting a consolation try at the end,
In the end, Canada won 35-7.
USA 12-28 Argentina
Argentina were in full control of their encounter with the USA at half-time after two converted tries gave them a comfortable 14-0 lead.
Argentina increased their lead to 21 points in the second half before the USA fought back with two tries.
However, the South Americans secured victory with a late try.
Your Cup semi-finalists at the #CapeTown7s! pic.twitter.com/PrHqDMGYNy
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 10, 2017
Challenge Trophy quarterfinals:
Kenya 15-19 Samoa
Samoa hit the ground running and they found themselves in front after sustained pressure in the Kenyan half to score a converted try.
Kenya took a little time to settle, but they hit back moments later with a try to reduce the deficit to two points.
The Kenyans then took the lead with a try in the corner after Samoa failed to get out of their own half, before Samoa hit back just before the break to lead 14-10.
Both teams scored a try in the second half, but it was the Samoans who came out on top in the end.
Scotland 7-24 Spain
It was a hard-fought encounter in the first half, but it was Spain who led 12-7 at the break after outscoring the Scots by two tries to one.
It was one-way traffic in the second half with Spain scoring another two tries to eventually win 24-7.
Wales 21-12 Russia
Russia showed how far they have come in the game of Sevens in their match against Wales.
The Russians dominated the first half and they found themselves 12-0 ahead at the break after scoring two tries.
However, it was a different story in the second half with Wales running in three unanswered tries to eventually win 21-12.
Australia 47-12 Uganda
Uganda could not compete with Australia's skill in their quarterfinal.
The Australians ran in five converted tries in the first half to lead 35-0 at the break.
The Aussies score another two tries which was matched by the Ugandans in the second half. In the end, it was a comfortable 47-12 win for Australia.
@rugby365com
