The Springbok Sevens tried hard, but in the end couldn’t repeat their incredible quarterfinal defensive performance, going down 19-5 to France in the Olympic Sevens semifinals on Saturday.
Faced with a capacity partisan crowd that booed their every move, and cheered everything on for France, the Blitzboks were defensively secure until halfway through the second half, when a defensive lapse saw Impi Visser watch Sepho Jordan blitz past him without even a tackle attempt and put Rayan Rebbadj over for the crucial try that shifted the momentum.
Thereafter the introduction of France’s favourite son, Antoine Dupont, saw them score a crucial try as 50-50 decisions went against the Boks. Called offside and still protesting the call, Dupont tapped quickly and put Jordan over to make it almost impossible for the Blitzboks to fight back.
Heartbreak for the Blitzboks as they end on the losing side against France in the Men’s Rugby Sevens semi-final.
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 27, 2024
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A third, and final try came as the Blitzboks were trying to break out of their 22 metre area, as Jordan picked up a dropped ball and simply dived over to baloon the scoreline.
The Blitzboks will now face Australia in the bronze final at 19h00 on Saturday night, giving them a chance for a medal.
It would be easy to feel sorry for the Blitzboks, but in reality their campaign was built on luck and guts more than skill. A poor season, qualifying through the back door for the Olympics and sneaking into the quarterfinals was never going to be the recipe for success.
And as commentator Rob Vickerman described their style of play as “pragmatic and robotic” and while defence would always be brave, the team never seemed to have much more than that after Quewin Nortje was ruled out with an injury.
Selvyn Davids was well-marked, Ryan Oosthuizen and Zane Davids gave their all with carries and on defence, but in the end it was the attack that was lacking, even though a defensive lapse gave France the keys to victory.
The Blitzboks only try came from Tristan Leyds, who went over in the corner after Dupont was penalised for what would have been a sensational steal and Davids tapped quickly and sent the ball wide.