The Springbok Sevens survived a late comeback by six-man Australia to claim South Africa’s first Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, winning the bronze 26-19 in a thriller.
🗣 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭!
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 27, 2024
The Blitzboks secure the Bronze medal in the Men’s Rugby Sevens 🇿🇦👏
It’s South Africa’s first medal at #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/7GEw9aqJ3l
The Blitzboks survived two late Australian tries after they had been reduced to six men by a red card for Nic Malouf, the Australian captain after a head-high shot on Tiaan Pretorius.
After Malouf left the field the Aussies scored twice to level the scores at 19-all going into the final minute of the game.
But some exceptional skill, and hard running by Shaun Williams on the outside drew just enough of the defence to let Selvyn Davids go through and cross the tryline - although he passed the ball back to Williams to dot down and get the celebrations going.
With the bench - and coach Philip Snyman in tears - the South Africans started to celebrate in the knowledge that they will get on the medal board after their earlier disappointment at losing in the semifinal to hosts France.
What a moment for the Blitzboks 🇿🇦
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 27, 2024
Look at what it meant to them 🥺
Shout to Selvyn Davids for letting Shaun Williams apply the winning touch 👏#Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/35ZhcQ2oEL
In a tournament where they looked dead and buried after day one, losing their opening two matches to Ireland and New Zealand, and after a season of disappointment where they finished seventh in the World Series, changed coaches halfway through the season and had to qualify for the Olympics via the back door in the Repechage tournament in Monaco, this was a dream ending.
The Blitzboks almost didn’t even make it into the quarters, needing 21 points difference against Japan to get there, but won 45-7 and then proceeded to stun New Zealand 24 hours after they were defeated by the All Blacks 14-7.
Against France, the tense contest saw them lead 5-0 after a scoreless first half and then France scored twice to take control of the game, adding a late try to balloon the score to 17-5.
Against a partisan crowd that booed them and cheered every home team pass, it wasn’t surprising, as much as it was disappointing that a moment or two of weakness on defence cost them.
BLITZBOKS REDEEMED
But then came Australia, who were soundly beaten by Fiji in the other semifinal, and scored first through Nathan Lawson.
Having had the rub of the green against the Blitzboks this season, they were confident of victory.
Selvyn Davids got the Blitzboks on the board with a trademark individual bit of brilliance, but then Malouf’s tackle happened.
Pretorius was floored and the ball moved wide for Tristan Leyds to motor down the sideline before passing inside to Zane Davids for the try.
The try stood and Malouf saw red. And a minute later Australia bumbled the ball and Davids picked up to surge across the line for a 19-7 lead against a team without a captain and one man down.
But Australia fought back, first through Corey Tooley who kicked through and beat the chase to dot down and then Henry Paterson, who drew them level but Dietrich Roach missed the conversion.
Seconds were counting down and the Blitzboks took the initiative, and the celebrations started.
From a season that looked like an abject failure before Paris to the second Olympic rugby medal in three games.
The Blitzboks had more than made up for their season, they had redeemed themselves.
And given South Africa their first Olympic medal.