The return of Mzwandile Stick has given South Africa’s challenge at the Cathay Pacific / Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens a major boost.
Sapa reports that the Springbok Sevens are currently joint leaders on the IRB Sevens World Series log with England and in Hong Kong the top-seeds will do battle in Pool A with France, Uruguay and Korea.
South Africa’s team were shattered after their poor performance at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai and are doubly grateful that they have an opportunity to put things right so soon, and on such a big stage.
The Sevens Boks stormed to success in the opening two IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Dubai and George, Stick kicking them to glory in Dubai and then scoring the winning try in George on home soil, but he was missing from World Cup effort and only now returns to the line-up.
“Seeing them go down in the World Cup against Argentina was very painful for me,” confided the captain in an exclusive interview with www.irbsevens.com.
“I still felt part of the team and was disappointed like them but it was a lesson and we’re going to learn and hopefully in Hong Kong things will go well for us.
“After the good start we had in Dubai and George we knew that all the teams were going to come hard at us. We’re not going to have any easy games and we’re just going to dig deep now and work for our points and stay positive.
Having started out for coach Paul Treu in Hong Kong, Stick also feels an extra affinity to the 24-team tournament.
“What a special tournament the Hong Kong Sevens is to play. For me it was where I started playing IRB Sevens, I made my debut here so it’s always been a special ground for me.
“I think it’s the best Sevens tournament, it’s almost a tradition that when it comes to Hong Kong everyone looks forward to watching it. It’s double points and at the moment we’re on top with England on 60 points so we know that if you win this one you’ve got a real chance to win the whole season.”
Tweet
Only 12 Games tomorrow. Boks are game 6.
10:15 – 11:55 SS6 IRB 7s World Series: Hong Kong Games 1 – 4
11:55 – 13:50 SS6 IRB 7s World Series: Hong Kong Games 5 – 8
13:50 – 15:30 SS6 IRB 7s World Series: Hong Kong Games 9 – 12
Go 7s dudes!
And DONT stuff it up ❗
3 Cup 1/4 Finals completed and the Boks have made it through to the Semi’s
New Zealand 7 – 10 Kenya
Samoa 15 – 12 Argentina
South Africa 24 – 10 Australia
Fiji v England in the last 1/4 final.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) :
England have lost to Fiji.
Should help us stay at the top of the standing. 😎
Fiji 12 – 10 England
Before this tournament
England 60
South Africa 60
New Zealand 52
Argentina 48
Fiji 32
Kenya 24
USA 20
Samoa 16
Portugal 8
Australia 6
Wales 6
Cook Islands 2
France 2
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) :
😯 😯
New Zealand 7 – 10 Kenya
😯 😯
I missed that.
Semi Final spots.
Portugal – Japan SF Bowl
Uruguay – Zimbabwe SF Bowl
=================================
France – Tonga SF Plate
Canada – Wales SF Plate
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SA – Samoa SF Cup
Kenya – Fiji SF Cup
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) :
So England (1), Argentina (4) and NZ (3) get no pints from Hong Kong. 😎
Their tournament is over.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
That is Good news for us, as SA Fans, we could stretch a good lead if we can go all the way. I think this is one of the few tournaments that has eluded us, so holding thumbs!!
Saw some handbags between us and the Aussies in the quarters. They must hate losing to us in rugby AND cricket and not to mention regular defeats in the 7’s as well…
@Whindy (Comment 9) :
Yip.
An ideal situation would be an SA v Kenya Final that SA wins. 😉
Semi Final Results
Cup
Kenya 7 – 24 Fiji
South Africa 29 – 3 Samoa
==============================
Plate
Canada 19 – 10 Wales
France 10 – 19 Tonga
===============================
Bowl
Uruguay 28 – 14 Zimbabwe
Portugal 26 – 10 Japan
Hong Kong Finals
Bowl Final
Portugal – Uruguay
======================
Plate Final
Tonga – Canada
=======================
Cup Final
South Africa – Fiji
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
teams on the left have won each game by 14 – 12 😯 😆
========================
Plate Final Result
Tonga 14 – 12 Canada
========================
Bowl Final Result
Portugal 14 – 12 Uruguay
========================
Cup Final Result.
14 – 12 to the team on the left? 😉
BOKKE!Did u hear the crowd sing the anthem!?
Fiji score first.Dont convert!
@Claytie (Comment 15) :
No I am stuck in this office. 😥
@Claytie (Comment 16) :
Shot for the updates.
GO Bokke
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :Actually by now they have a few pints in them.Fiji score again and convert.
And a freaking gain.19 blank. 5 mins gone.Horn off,dont know who on.Bokke intent on taking contact.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) :
And Now I’m leaving the office for a meeting. 👿
Stupid Fools don’t realise how they mess with my social life. 😈
King Dazel and Powell link well and pull one back.No cönversion.19-5.
Eberson!unders the posts,minutes after the hooter,Boks composed play.Kyle Brown and Benjamin doing GOOD work!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : How rude!19-12 to Fiji,second half ko.Dazel knock on on fiji 22.
Fiji score.Missed tackles.Damn!
26-12
Fiji yellow on their try line.Push boks into touch.Lineout cleared into touch.
26-19.
Boks blow chance
SA score in the last second.But in the corner,conversion missed.Game Fiji!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) :
After this tournament
South Africa 84
England 68
Fiji 62
New Zealand 60
Argentina 56
Kenya 42
Samoa 34
USA 20
Australia 14
Portugal 9
Wales 8
France 4
Tonga 4
Canada 3
Cook Islands 2
5 Rounds completed 3 to go.
looking good for SA, go Bokke