GARY LEMKE in Paris
Team South Africa are into the semi-finals of the men’s sevens rugby competition, where they will play hosts France on Saturday for a place in the gold medal match.
Having started their campaign with two Pool A losses – 10-5 to Ireland and 17-5 to New Zealand – they fought back in style at a bouncing Stade de France in Paris on Thursday. Dare we mouth that ‘M’ word just yet? Even if they lost to France, they’d still be able to play off for the bronze medal.
Needing to beat Japan by a minimum 21 points to qualify for the knockout stages, they did so with a swagger, romping to a 49-5 win that placed them at eighth in the standings, the last available spot. They were drawn against the winners of their own pool and that was to be New Zealand, who edged out Ireland in the dying moments of their game.
The Kiwis, who would start favourites based on their 12-point win over Philip Snyman’s men on Wednesday night. However, this was a different-looking South African outfit. They came out with energy, commitment and no shortage of intelligence. They also had players who were willing to put their bodies on their line in defending their country’s honour.
Team South Africa struck first when captain Selvyn Davids went over in the third minute and, as he had done with a 100 percent record in the pool game against Japan, Tristen Leyds popped over the conversion. One try often brings two in this format and this time Leyds himself went over in the last minute of the half. He slotted the conversion and suddenly South Afruca had stretched out their lead, before the Kiwis struck shortly before the hooter.
Still, South Africa held a 14-7 advantage and one foot in the semi-finals with seven minutes to play on another day that had seen the French crowd come out and fill the iconic stadium. The changes were rung in the second stanza, with Leyds coming off for Ronald Brown – as had been the case against Japan – and Impi Visser was replaced by Christie Grobbelaar.
Halfway through the second period South Africa were still leading 14-7, before Ryan Oosthuizen was replaced by Tiaan Pretorius with two and a half minutes remaining.
The winners knew that they’d be up against France or Argentina in Saturday’s semi-final, while the losers knew they woulf be out of contention for a medal.
Put a South African in that position and the warrior comes out in them., And so it proved to be as they held their nerve heroically. With a minute to go Siviwe Soyizwapi and Shaun Williams came on for Davids and Rosko Specman.
Could Team South Africa hold on for the final minute? Of course they could!
France, spearheaded by Antoine Dupont, rode the back of a home wave as they saw off Argentina 26-14 to book their spot in the semi-final.
Elsewhere in Olympic action on Thursday, archer Wian Roux qualified 63rd in the recurve and will meet the No2-ranked player in the next round.
Photo: Anton Geyser/Team SA
STORY SOURCED FROM SASCOC WEBSITE.
