A try at the death by Zander Reynders gave the Springbok Sevens side a morale-boosting 26-24 win over defending HSBC World SVNS Series champions Argentina at the Singapore Sevens on Saturday.
Zander Reynders crossed the whitewash late in the encounter as the Blitzboks edged Argentina 26-24 for their first win in Pool A #SSRugby
— SuperSport Blitz (@SuperSportBlitz) April 5, 2025
The win sparked celebrations and underlined the fight within the squad, but it is not likely to be enough to take the Blitzboks through to the semifinals.
With the format of the tournament rewarding pool winners only - all four pool winners qualify for the semifinals - the Blitzboks loss to Great Britain will likely be their undoing.
Argentina and Britain will still have to face off, but even if Argentina beat Great Britain, it isn’t likely to be enough to give the Blitzboks passage via points difference.
The 38-10 loss to Great Britain - in part due to an early red card to Sebastian Jobb - was critical in the Blitzboks’ campaign.
At the moment Great Britain have a points difference of +28, the Blitzboks, after two games have a negative minus 26 points difference and Argentina -2.
Even if Argentina win, their points difference will be better than the Blitzboks and is likely to see them or Great Britain through. A draw will see Great Britain qualify.
The #Blitzboks redeemed themselves with a superb victory over #HSBCSVNS series leaders Argentina in their second pool game in Singapore - more here: https://t.co/dBwjKQSEvd ⤴#JourneyToGreatness pic.twitter.com/eW0bccNQ34
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) April 5, 2025
The win also stopped a 15 match unbeaten run for Los Pumas 7s, after they won the last two tournaments in Hong Kong and Vancouver - beating the Blitzboks in the final in the latter.
The games between these two sides are notoriously tough, and always within a score, but the Blitzboks fought hard to win this one.
Luciano Gonzalez bumped off Selvyn Davids for the opening try but Blitzboks hit back first through a powerful run by Zain Davids and then after a beauty of a floated pass by Dewald Human to Siviwe Soyizwapi, which put the former captain in enough space to beat the defence.
Just before the break, Argentina narrowed the scoreline after Tobias Wade kicked ahead and won the race to the ball just before the dead ball line.
Argentina scored first in the second half through Marias Osadczuk before Dewald Human stepped two defenders to retake the lead for the South Africans.
Agustin Fraga scored and it looked like Argentina would close it out, but the fight to retain the ball through four phases, and then David Brits’ beauty of an angled grubber set it up for Reynders to score and claim the victory.
Earlier Jobb’s red card in the second minute of the clash made it impossible for the Blitzboks to play on an even field with Great Britain, who used their number difference to good effect to post an easy win.
Argentina will face Great Britain at 2pm, the game is live on SuperSport.