THE Blitzboks were crowned Nelson Mandela Bay champions after beating old nemesis New Zealand 26-17 in another final for the ages.
The South African Sevens team looks increasingly unbeatable on home soil after they defended the title they won last year, in an emotional farewell to Nelson Mandela.
The Blitzboks won in Dubai three weeks ago but this title is always special.
The feeling here was that coach Neil Powell has a stronger team than the one that won the IRB Sevens World Series title in 2009, of which he was an integral part.
The experience of Cecil Afrika, mixed with Branco du Preez's creativity, plus a dash of Frankie Horne's physicality and Seabelo Senatla's X-factor, have made for the most balanced diet since the Blitzboks last popped champagne at the end of a season.
Nerves marked the start of the final itself and they manifested themselves in Senatla's early misplaced pass that gave New Zealand a lineout in dangerous territory. Sherwin Stowers capitalised in the corner. But unlike last year, when the Blitzboks allowed New Zealand to go two tries up before punching back, they retaliated through Philip Snyman before Afrika made it 12-5 with a minute to the break.
The match was tense, made more so by Afrika getting sin binned on half time. Tim Mikkelson took full advantage and scored in the corner for 12-10 at the break.
The second half demanded a Senatla special and it got one two minutes after the restart, from Kwagga Smith's off-load.
Smith scored the try that ensured South Africa, 26-17 up with less than a minute to go.
SA blitz past NZ to defend title
THE Blitzboks were crowned Nelson Mandela Bay champions after beating old nemesis New Zealand 26-17 in another final for the ages.
The South African Sevens team looks increasingly unbeatable on home soil after they defended the title they won last year, in an emotional farewell to Nelson Mandela.
The Blitzboks won in Dubai three weeks ago but this title is always special.
The feeling here was that coach Neil Powell has a stronger team than the one that won the IRB Sevens World Series title in 2009, of which he was an integral part.
The experience of Cecil Afrika, mixed with Branco du Preez's creativity, plus a dash of Frankie Horne's physicality and Seabelo Senatla's X-factor, have made for the most balanced diet since the Blitzboks last popped champagne at the end of a season.
Nerves marked the start of the final itself and they manifested themselves in Senatla's early misplaced pass that gave New Zealand a lineout in dangerous territory. Sherwin Stowers capitalised in the corner. But unlike last year, when the Blitzboks allowed New Zealand to go two tries up before punching back, they retaliated through Philip Snyman before Afrika made it 12-5 with a minute to the break.
The match was tense, made more so by Afrika getting sin binned on half time. Tim Mikkelson took full advantage and scored in the corner for 12-10 at the break.
The second half demanded a Senatla special and it got one two minutes after the restart, from Kwagga Smith's off-load.
Smith scored the try that ensured South Africa, 26-17 up with less than a minute to go.