The last Tournament in the 2014 calendar year for the HSBC Sevens World Series of 2014 / 2015 took place in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens tournament was played over 2 Days, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2014.
When play started on Day 1, France scored within 14 seconds against Fiji, but Fiji rallied to demolish France by 45 / 5.
Canada surprised by beating Scotland 14 / 12 in the 2nd game.
A number of more surprises followed on Day one, but what remained firm was the South African Blitzbokke resolve as they monstered their way to 3 excellent wins, and only conceeding a solitary try in the process.
Apart from South Africa, the other big Sevens nations – New Zealand, England, Fiji and Australia were joined by USA, Scotland and Argentina in the Cup Quarters on Day 2.
South Africa advanced to the Final, beating England and Australia along the way, whilst New Zealand beat USA to advance to a semi against Argentina, then comfortably beat Argentina, to book their place against the South African Blitzbokke in the Final.
Australia took the 3rd Place Play-off game against Argentina, 34 / 19.
The South African Blitzbokke took Final honours against New Zealand by 26 / 17 and made it back to back tournament wins as well as a successful defence of the Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens title!
To Southern Hemisphere rugby interests, this tournament represents the last action in the 2014 rugby season, with their off-season officially starting after this tournament.
In the Northern Hemisphere though, it is all action in December.
The 2014 / 2015 season carries added significance because the top-ranked sides after the ninth and final round in London in May 2015 will qualify directly for the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
All times are SA Time (CAT = GMT+2)
Results – Day 1 |
||||
| 13 | Fiji | 45 – 5 | France | 10:30 |
| 13 | Scotland | 12 – 14 | Canada | 10:52 |
| 13 | Australia | 33 – 21 | Portugal | 11:14 |
| 13 | Argentina | 31 – 5 | Zimbabwe | 11:36 |
| 13 | New Zealand | 24 – 7 | Samoa | 11:58 |
| 13 | England | 45 – 0 | Japan | 12:20 |
| 13 | South Africa | 26 – 0 | USA | 12:42 |
| 13 | Wales | 29 – 5 | Kenya | 13:04 |
| 13 | Fiji | 26 – 7 | Canada | 13:46 |
| 13 | Scotland | 19 – 12 | France | 14:08 |
| 13 | Australia | 50 – 0 | Zimbabwe | 14:30 |
| 13 | Argentina | 14 – 7 | Portugal | 14:52 |
| 13 | New Zealand | 29 – 0 | Japan | 15:14 |
| 13 | England | 22 – 7 | Samoa | 15:36 |
| 13 | South Africa | 38 – 7 | Kenya | 15:58 |
| 13 | Wales | 12 – 38 | USA | 16:20 |
| 13 | France | 24 – 21 | Canada | 17:04 |
| 13 | Fiji | 19 – 12 | Scotland | 17:26 |
| 13 | Portugal | 19 – 7 | Zimbabwe | 17:48 |
| 13 | Australia | 21 – 31 | Argentina | 18:10 |
| 13 | Samoa | 14 – 17 | Japan | 18:52 |
| 13 | New Zealand | 5 – 0 | England | 19:14 |
| 13 | USA | 33 – 5 | Kenya | 19:36 |
| 13 | South Africa | 36 – 0 | Wales | 19:58 |
Fixtures & Results – Day 2 |
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| 14 | Wales | 24 – 22 | Samoa | 10:51 |
| 14 | Canada | 22 – 5 | Zimbabwe | 11:13 |
| 14 | Japan | 12 – 26 | Kenya | 11:35 |
| 14 | Portugal | 7 – 42 | France | 11:57 |
| 14 | South Africa | 31 – 7 | England | 12:19 |
| 14 | Fiji | 19 – 31 | Australia | 12:41 |
| 14 | New Zealand | 28 – 7 | USA | 13:03 |
| 14 | Argentina | 26 – 19 | Scotland | 13:25 |
| 14 | Samoa | 21 – 14 | Zimbabwe | 14:07 |
| 14 | Japan | 15 – 24 | Portugal | 14:29 |
| 14 | Wales | 14 – 24 | Canada | 14:51 |
| 14 | Kenya | 14 – 12 | France | 15:13 |
| 14 | England | 0 – 31 | Fiji | 15:55 |
| 14 | USA | 26 – 19 | Scotland | 16:17 |
| 14 | South Africa | 19 – 10 | Australia | 16:39 |
| 14 | New Zealand | 29 – 0 | Argentina | 17:01 |
| 14 | Samoa | 14 – 19 | Portugal | 17:43 |
| 14 | Canada | 24 – 5 | Kenya | 18:08 |
| 14 | Fiji | 14 – 21 | USA | 18:33 |
| 14 | Australia | 34 – 19 | Argentina | 18:58 |
| 14 | South Africa | 26 – 17 | New Zealand | 19:30 |
HSBC Sevens World Series Standings prior to this tournament:
| Team | AUS | DUB | RSA | USA | NZL | JPN | HKG | SCO | ENG | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiji | 22 | 17 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 39 |
| 2 | South Africa | 15 | 22 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 37 |
| 3 | Australia | 10 | 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 29 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 13 | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 28 |
| 5 | Samoa | 19 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 27 |
| 6 | England | 17 | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 27 |
| 7 | Argentina | 12 | 13 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 25 |
| 8 | Wales | 10 | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 20 |
| 9 | Scotland | 5 | 12 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17 |
| 10 | France | 7 | 7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 14 |
| 11 | USA | 8 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13 |
| 12 | Portugal | 5 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10 |
| 13 | Canada | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6 |
| 14 | Kenya | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 |
| 15 | Japan | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| 16 | Brazil | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| 17 | American Samoa | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
Great pressure start by the Blitzbokke, earns them a lineout.
Afrika is back on, 7 against 7
Tryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Senatla
Boomfa!
Man, he is good… so too Kwagga Smith
Blitzbokke 19 / 10 New Zealand
Try Joe Webber, under the sticks
Blitzbokke 19 / 17 New Zealand
Obstruction by the Blitzbokke, penalty
Close game… and still more than 3 min to go
Tryyyyyyyyyy to the Kwagga-man!
Whoop, whoop!
Blitzbokke 26 / 17 New Zealand
1 Min 30 seconds to go
NZ penalty, 45 secs to go
Bliksem maar hierdie Kwagga laaitie is goed
Time is UP, Blitzbokke will be the champs….
Blitzbokke penalty… hehehe
Well done Bokke!
Back to back tournaments champs and we also last year took the PE sevens!!
Heeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaa
Wel, well, well… nicely done Blitzbokke!
Blitzbokke also now take a clear lead in the season totals…
Good time to go have a deserved rest in the Southern Hemisphere!
Lekker spoed en ongelooflike bal hantering. Kan HM nie dalk maar hier vir raad aanklop nie?
New Zealand team goes to collect their runners-up medals…
Now the triumphant Blitzbokke go up to get their WINNERS mendals and trophee!
And the fireworks errupt!
… and we don’t have to see a shirtless Haka… hahaha
@ superBul:
As sewes iets beteken het vir 15 man rugby sou fiji seker ook in die top 5 gewees het?
@ nortie:
Mens kon al by die cb sien daai kwagga het die hart van n reus!
There is some serious talent now amongst the Blitzbokke!
Werner Kok (strong and abrasive, massive tackling)
Kwagga Smith (strong, clever, abrasive)
Seabelo Senatla (massive speed and finishing ability)
Cheslin Kolbe (magic stepper, clever options)
Kyle Brown (Mr reliable)
Frankie Horn (the old warhorse)
Cecil Afrika (Playmaker)
Branco du Preez (stepping scrummie)
Philip Snyman (he has really surprised me – true grit and hard worker)
… to name a few…
@ MacroBok:
Ek praat van bal hantering, die Blitzbokke was baie beter as die 15 man manne wat dit betref.
Bulle is nog erger met hul swak hantering
Genade, what a celebration… and to spoil it with glass-half-empty comments just shows how sour certain people are….
@ grootblousmile:
Daar is f2all half empty glasses here, is that another dull comment against any critics against HM,s Bokke.
compare the ball being spilled from the bread basket with the handling seen here today.
Now tell me is there nothing positive that can be learned from this.
237 @ superBul:
Ag, gaan plant ‘n blom of 2, toe….
@ superBul:
@ grootblousmile:
Julle twee toppies slweer aan die gang oor halfglase en blombolle!
Maak eerder daai glase vol en drink n dop op die Blitsbokke en Mej Wereld…en flok die blomme! Sommer n ekstra dop op Kwagga Boland Coetzee Smith ook, what a boykie!
Nite manne, woestyngriep en werk het my beet, ek duik eers, tjorts julle ander RTs ook.
239 @ Pietman:
Hehehe
Ek dink SuperBlom snuif kunsmis in sy spaartyd…
Jy steeds nie oor jou griepperigheid nie… jinne ouderdom is ‘n bliksem, nê!
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