Cape Town SVNS 2024/25: South African men and Olympic champions New Zealand on top in the Mother City
The South African men's team won their first Cup title on home soil in nine years with New Zealand clinching their first women's tournament of the new season on Sunday (8 December).
Rugby Sevens
The South African Sevens team overcame reigning Olympic champions France 26-14 for their first Cup title victory at home in nine years at the World Rugby SVNS Series 2024/25 in Cape Town on Sunday (8 December).
The match was a repeat of the Paris 2024 semi-final where the French came out on top 19-5.
The Olympic bronze medallists exacted some revenge on the French side with a gutsy victory at Cape Town Stadium on the foot of Table Mountain.
France struck shortly after the start of the contest, with Celian Pouzelgues going over to give his side a seven-point advantage.
The Blitzboks returned the favour with Donavan Don finding a gap out wide to level the scores. The hosts doubled the score to take the lead with the burly Zain Davids bouncing a defender out of the way for his try.
The sides went into the recess level on 14-14 after Frenchman Varian Pasquet scored in the left-hand corner on the stroke of half-time.
The Blitzboks regained the advantage from a set piece with Shilton van Wyk collecting a grubber kick down the left touchline to reclaim the lead.
Seconds later David Brits managed the hosts’ fourth try of the clash to extend their lead to 12 points.
South Africa’s Siviwe Soyizwapi copped a yellow card late in the match, but the Blitzboks team held their nerve to keep the French out to win their first home tournament in nine years.
Olympic women’s champions New Zealand overcame a spirited US team 26-12 for their first Cup victory of the new season after succumbing to bitter rivals Australia at the opening leg in Dubai a week ago.
New Zealand turned a 12-point deficit around after scoring four consecutive tries to set up a 26-12 victory over the US Eagles.
The US drew first blood with Nia Toliver dancing her way past the New Zealand defenders for a long-range unconverted try a minute into the contest. The Eagles struck again courtesy of an Alyssa Porter five-pointer with the underdogs taking a 12-0 lead.
New Zealand only got onto the scoreboard six minutes into the first half with Jorja Miller opening the account. The converted try sparked New Zealand into action as they took the lead for the first time on 14-12 a minute later with Jazmin Felix-Hotham crossing the whitewash.
The Kiwis extended their lead to nine points with Kelsey Teneti scoring after the half-time break before Dhys Faleafaga went over in the left-hand corner to take the wind out of the US sails.