Singapore Sevens: Blitzboks off to a good start

The Springbok Sevens team got their HSBC SVNS Singapore campaign off to a winning start with a 31-7 victory over Spain on Friday.

The Blitzboks scored five tries, but were also forced to defend at times during the game, which they did very well to keep the Spanish out until they crossed after the hooter had sounded.

Selvyn Davids scored the first try one minute in when he showed great speed from the back of an attacking scrum just outside the Spanish 22.

Dewald Human converted to make it 7-0, and then he scored the second try a few minutes later after a string of penalties against Spain.

The last penalty was close to Spain’s own tryline and Human didn’t need a second invitation to tap and crash over for the try to stretch the Blitzboks’ lead to 12-0.

Spain finished the half strong but the Blitzboks’ defence held firm in their own 22 to take their 12-point lead into the break.

BLITZBOKS DRAWN IN POOL B

From the restart, Christie Grobbelaar set off on a strong run, but he was stopped just short. A few phases later though, Impi Visser found space and scored the Blitzboks’ third try, with Human adding the extras to make it 19-0.

Tristan Leyds then made it 26-0 after a great steal on the ground by Visser, who fed the speedster to race away for the try, which was converted by Selvyn Davids.

Rosko Specman celebrated the start of his 35th tournament in style when he grabbed the Blitzboks’ fifth try from a clever grubber to make it 31-0.

Spain grabbed a consolation try after the buzzer, but the Blitzboks had done what they needed by then.

Their next pool game on Friday is at 13:18 (SA time) against Samoa.

They face France on Saturday, 4 May at 08:24 (SA time) in their final Pool B match.

LATEST STANDINGS

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)