They Did it! Brilliant Blitzboks Win GOLD at Commonwealth Games 2022
The Springbok Sevens team beat Fiji in the final of the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday evening, clinching the gold medal after a clinical display of sevens rugby at Coventry Stadium. The SA team produced a brilliant performance to defeat Fiji 31-7 in a pulsating Final on Sunday evening in Birmingham. The South Africans […]
The Springbok Sevens team beat Fiji in the final of the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday evening, clinching the gold medal after a clinical display of sevens rugby at Coventry Stadium. The SA team produced a brilliant performance to defeat Fiji 31-7 in a pulsating Final on Sunday evening in Birmingham.
The South Africans made a great start and scored three well-worked tries in the opening half while keeping the dangerous Fijian runners in check with excellent tackling and great counter-attacking play.
They deservingly led 17-0 at the break in the Coventry Stadium, while in the second half they combined their heroic defensive effort with equally great finishing performances.
IF YOU’RE IN SOUTH AFRICA – Watch Team SA in action at the Commonwealth Games on Showmax Pro!
South Africa played without the dynamic playmaker Ronald Brown, who was injured in the semi-final win over Australia earlier in the day, while regular skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi was also out injured.
Muller du Plessis opened the scoring from a pinpoint Selvyn Davids cross-kick, an early sign of things to come.
JC Pretorius scored the second in the same corner after a sustained passage of attacking play, with South Africa looking well after the ball in contact. That put them 12-0 ahead.
Shaun Williams scored the third try as the menacing Pretorius stole another crucial turnover to put the little speedster away, the try handing South Africa a 17-0 half-time advantage.
Beast Mode💪. #TeamSA #B2022 #CommonwealthGames pic.twitter.com/lmAaxTUwVX
— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2024) July 31, 2022
After the break, Du Plessis then ran in for his second off an excellent cut-out pass from Selvyn Davids. Williams nailed the angled conversion to stretch the lead to 24-0 and left Fiji with a mountain to climb.
Fiji eventually got on the scoreboard when Nacuqu went over for converted try to reduce the deficit to 27-7.
But the Blitzboks were not to be denied. Mfundo Ndhlovu scored the final try with seconds remaining to seal a brilliant gold medal performance, denying Fiji the remaining major title that have escaped them at previous Commonwealth Games.
South Africa also won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games staged in Glasgow.
🇿🇦 Nothing but pride!@TeamSA2024 #BestOfUs pic.twitter.com/tgCH09m5Fa
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) July 31, 2022
Scorers:
South Africa 31 (17) – Tries: Muller du Plessis (2), JC Pretorius, Shaun Williams, Mfundo Ndhlovu. Conversions: Shaun Williams (2), Dewald Human.
Fiji 7 (0) – Try: Waisea Nacuqu. Conversion: Nacuqu.
IF YOU’RE IN SOUTH AFRICA – Watch Team SA in action at the Commonwealth Games on Showmax Pro!
🥇 Wow! Just wow! What a performance by the Blitzboks to take gold with a superb victory over Fiji in the Commonwealth Games final! Well done to all the teams in Birmingham, what a wonderful tournament! A second sevens gold for @TeamSA2024! pic.twitter.com/aYY59moG77
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) July 31, 2022
Muller du Plessis scored twice in the gold medal match at the @birminghamcg22 – this was his first, early in the final. What was your favourite moment of the game? @TeamSA2024 #B2022 pic.twitter.com/0f9bmlrybg
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) July 31, 2022
Source: SARugby