The Springbok Sevens advanced to the decider after a hard-fought 19-12 win against Spain, showcasing resilience and determination despite a shaky start.
The match against the Spanish was anything but easy for the home side. Falling behind 12-0 within just the first few minutes, the Blitzboks struggled initially to find their rhythm. Uncharacteristic errors plagued their early performance as they mismanaged kick-offs and slipped in tackles, allowing the Spaniards to seize the initiative and dominate the early exchanges.
Finals. The #Blitzboks will contest the #CapeTown7s final later tonight. What a fightback by the team to beat Spain pic.twitter.com/nkTLwYuSQp
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) December 8, 2024
However, a pivotal moment came when co-captain Impi Visser made a crucial linebreak that led to an offload to his fellow co-captain Zain Davids.
In a desperate effort, Davids kicked the ball through, managing just to ground the try before the half-time whistle blew. This pivotal score ignited a revival for the Blitzboks, as playmaker Tristan Leyds emphatically noted.
“That was a very important try.”
With the momentum shifting, the home side regrouped during the half-time huddle, with Leyds acknowledging the importance of maintaining possession and reverting to their game plan.
The crowd’s palpable energy provided the team with motivation, as Leyds recounted how the atmosphere shifted.
“I heard the crowd quiet down after that second try of Spain, but once we started having the ball in hand, the crowd gave us that extra energy.”
“I heard the crowd quiet down after that second try of Spain, but once we started having the ball in hand, the crowd gave us that extra energy.”
As the second half progressed, confidence grew, and points began to flow. Leyds found himself inspired by the crowd's renewed support.
“Once we started getting points on the board, the crowd started believing in us and that added fuel to our fire. In the second half, our flame was burning bright.”
The #Blitzboks fought tooth and nail in their semi-final against Spain, but did enough and will face France in the #HSBCSVNS Cape Town final later tonight - more here: https://t.co/6FVat3TjTO 👏#PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/Zi7Pftq4J7
The Blitzboks displayed characteristic grit, ultimately completing their fightback against Spain for a spot in the final.
Now, facing the formidable French team — who overcame the reigning Dubai champions, Fiji, despite receiving a yellow card — Leyds understands the scale of the challenge ahead.
Nine years have passed since the Blitzboks last claimed victory in a Cape Town final, a statistic they are eager to change tonight. The players are keen to show their supporters the progress they have made and the hard work they've put in during their training.
Yet amidst the anticipation, Leyds emphasises the need to keep focus.
“We must stick to the group and play as a unit and just block out the noise. The importance will be to enjoy ourselves on the field.”