The Team South African Sevens team will need a bit of luck to make it into the medal rounds of the Paris Olympics after they were beaten 17-5 by New Zealand in their second match at the Games on Wednesday.
After qualifying for the Olympics via the back door, they now have to hope for a similar miracle after also going down to Ireland 10-5 in their first match of the tournament.
The New Zealanders, who pumped Japan in their first match, are now level on points with Ireland atop of Pool A after they also ran out comfortable 40-5 winners against the Japanese.
The Blitzboks need to pump Japan by a lot of points on Thursday (4pm kickoff) and hope they can qualify for the next round as one of the best third-placed teams.
The Blitzboks’ biggest problem in their first two matches has been getting their hands on the ball. They have been unable able to make dominate tackles to turn the ball over, although their shape on defence has largely limited the damage.
When they have had the ball, they haven’t been able to commit defenders to find space. They have been rushed and their ball gets turned over rather easy by the opposition at the breakdown.
New Zealand went into the break 10-5 in the lead after Moses Leo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored either side of Selvyn Davids’ effort.
The Blitzboks also bore the brunt of the referee’s whistle in the second half, with some questionable penalties leading to more defending.
Leo scored the all-important third try for New Zealand mid-way through the second half, which Akuila Rokolisoa converted.
Point-scorers:
South Africa 5 (5) - Try: Selvyn Davids.
New Zealand 17 (10) - Tries: Moses Leo (2), Ngarohi McGarvey-Black. Conversion: Akuila Rokolisoa.
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