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The Blitzboks defended their World Rugby Seven Series crown by beating
England in the final of the Paris Sevens. South Africa ran out 24-14
winners in a tense encounter played in rainy conditions.
The Blitzboks started impressively, carrying the ball through a number of
phases until Werner Kok cut inside, beating three defenders in the process
to score a converted try and give South Africa a 7-0 lead.
England hit back straight from the kick-off with speedster Dan Norton
getting away from the Blitzbok defence before feeding Oliver Lindsay-Hague
for a converted try.
Norton then scored a try of his own, converted by Tom Mitchell to give
England a 14-7 with a minute left in the half.
But the Blitzboks were not done, scoring a try through Dylan Oosthuizen a
full two minutes after the first-half hooter sounded. Justin Geduld landed a
brilliant conversion to see the teams locked at 14-14 at half-time.
Dewald Human got the Blitzboks off to the best possible start in the second
half, scoring a try, which was converted by Geduld for a 21-14 lead.
Such was South Africa's desperation to win, that Geduld then opted to kick
at goal for when England were penalised in their own 22m area. He was
successful with the drop kick, putting the score out to 24-14.
The South Africans then hung on for the next three minutes to claim the
Paris Sevens and World Rugby Sevens Series glory.
¡V Source:
www.sport24.co.za |
