Springboks superstars spark Sharks’ stunning fightback over Clermont in Challenge Cup semi-final
The teams
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Francois Venter
Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Julien Heriteau, 12 Léon Darricarrere, 11 Joris Jurand, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 8 Fritz Lee (c), 7 Peceli Yato, 6 Marcos Kremer, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Giorgi Beria
Replacements: 16 Yohan Beheregaray, 17 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 18 Cristian Ojovan, 19 Thibault Lanen, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 22 Theo Giral, 23 Yerim Fall
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
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Blitzboks crash out of title contention at Singapore Sevens
The Springbok Sevens team crashed out of title contention at the Singapore Sevens after losing to Australia in the quarter-finals.
Australia won a close quarterfinal 29–24, with a try in extra time after the scores were tied at the end of regulation time on Saturday, knocking the Springbok Sevens team out of the running for the title.
With three minutes remaining, the Australians had a 24-5 lead, setting up a dramatic finish to the match. However, three late tries by the Blitzboks, spearheaded by Christie Grobbelaar, Quewin Nortje, and Tristan Leyds, leveled the scores.
In added time, with the golden point at play, the Blitzboks had a kickable penalty, but opted for a scrum, which led to nothing.
Moments later, Shilton van Wyk was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle, which opened the necessary space for Nick Malouf to score the match-winning try and send Australia into the semi-finals.
South Africa will now play world series leaders Argentina for fifth place, at 09:55 (SA time) on Sunday.
BLITZBOKS BEAT FRANCE EARLIER IN THE DAY
Earlier on Saturday, Dylan Sage scored a magnificent try after the buzzer to help secure a nail-biting 20-19 victory in their final pool game against France.
The Blitzboks squandered a 15-0 lead in two minutes against the resilient French after a strong start, with defensive pressure forcing mistakes from the team in blue.
When Selvyn Davids was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-down though, the tide seemed to turn.
A minute later though, France also lost a player to the sin-bin and the Blitzboks immediately struck, with Nortje going over for a great try in the left corner after five minutes.
Shortly after Davids’ return to the field, Leyds scored in the same corner from a brilliant set move.
The Blitzboks had a scrum and went right, but Shilton van Wyk saw the space on the left and his cross-kick found and unmarked Leyds, whose try made it 10-0.
They were not done yet and after forcing a French knock-on through more pressure on defence, Selvyn Davids darted away for a third try – also unconverted – to see the Blitzboks in control at 15-0 at the break.
Midway through the second half, the French found their rhythm and exploited restart mistakes from the Blitzboks to score three tries in two minutes – two of which were converted – and suddenly, with time almost up on the clock, they led by 19-15.
However, the Blitzboks showed superb resilience and from a penalty on their own 5m-line, Leyds tapped and Rosko Specman found space up the middle of the field, before the ball was worked to the left for Sage, who is playing in his first tournament in four years, to go over for the winner after the buzzer
Roles were reversed in the quarter-final though, with the Aussies taking a commanding 24-5 lead before the drama late in the match.
Leading by 17-5 at the break – with Zain Davids’ brilliant 60m effort the Blitzboks’ only points as they had almost no possession in the half – Australia added a fourth try 90 seconds into the second stanza.
With four minutes to go and time running out, Leyds scored from a tap penalty, but the conversion once more went wide; the Blitzboks will need to solve this as it was their tenth straight unsuccessful conversion attempt. However, they were left without a strong kicker due to Dewald Human’s injury on the first day of play.
Leyds added the extras to make it a seven-point contest after Grobbelaar pounced on a stray ball behind a ruck shortly after the restart.
With 30 seconds remaining, Nortje subsequently tore open the Australian defense in midfield for a try under the posts, but Van Wyk’s yellow card and Malouf’s score put a stop to the Blitzboks’ momentum in Singapore four minutes later during extra time.
Coach Philip Snyman of the Blitzboks was inconsolable following the loss against Australia.
“The guys showed great effort and a lot of character to come back from a 24-5 deficit with three tries to level the scores, but we were a little bit sloppy at the start,” Snyman said.
We had three chances in extra time that we failed to convert into points. Perhaps we should have chosen one or two alternative plays, but that is now in the past and there is nothing we can do about it.
“Although we were close to making it to the semi-finals, we’re disappointed with the outcome. It was very painful for the guys.”
“On the field, we must improve our decision-making skills and become more clinical when given the chance.”
Before their match against Argentina on Sunday, Snyman stated that they will start over from scratch. “We need to be decisive, but this team will have to rock and show character tomorrow,” he said. We want to show what this Springbok Sevens squad is capable of, turn things around, and play with the correct mentality.”
SCORERS
South Africa 20 (15) France 19 (0)
SA – Tries: Quewin Nortje, Tristan Leyds, Selvyn Davids, Dylan Sage.
France – Tries: Aaron Grandidier (2), JP Barraque. Conversions: Barraque (2).
South Africa 24 (5) Australia 29 (17)
SA – Tries: Zain Davids, Tristan Leyds, Christie Grobbelaar, Quewin Nortje. Conversions: Leyds, Selvyn Davids.
Australia – Tries: Nathan Lawson (2), Dietrich Roache, Henry Hutchison, Nick Malouf (golden point). Conversions: Roache (2)
The South African website will keep you up to date with all the latest news and results from Singapore.
STANDINGS AHEAD OF SINGAPORE SEVENS
| Rank | Country | Points |
| 1 | Argentina | 94 |
| 2 | Ireland | 86 |
| 3 | Fiji | 76 |
| 4 | France | 74 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 73 |
| 6 | Australia | 69 |
| 7 | South Africa | 58 |
| 8 | USA | 44 |
| 9 | Great Britain | 37 |
| 10 | Spain | 33 |
| 11 | Samoa | 27 |
| 12 | Canada | 13 |
SPRINGBOK SEVENS SQUAD FOR SINGAPORE
#1 Christie Grobbelaar – 19 tournaments, 150 points (30 tries)
#3 Impi Visser – 37 tournaments, 195 points (39 tries)
#4 Zain Davids – 47 tournaments, 205 points (41 tries)
#6 Tiaan Pretorius – 6 tournaments, 10 points (2 tries)
#8 Selvyn Davids (captain) – 35 tournaments, 643 points (82 tries, 115 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#10 Dewald Human – 25 tournaments, 280 points (24 tries, 80 conversions)
#11 Siviwe Soyizwapi – 51 tournaments, 750 points (150 tries)
#12 Shilton van Wyk – 19 tournaments, 180 points (36 tries)
#14 Rosko Specman – 34 tournaments, 461 points (85 tries, 18 conversions)
#24 Tristan Leyds – 3 tournaments, 33 points (5 tries, 4 conversions)
#28 Dylan Sage – 26 tournaments, 160 points (32 tries)
#30 Quewin Nortje – 4 tournaments, 55 points (11 tries)
#35 Katlego Letebele – 6 tournaments, 5 points (1 try)
