Impressive SA win Adelaide Sevens
Brad Morgan
7 April 2008 South Africa's Sevens rugby team brought an end to New Zealand's season-long domination of the IRB World Sevens Series on Sunday when Neil Powell's side beat the Kiwis 15-7 to clinch the Adelaide Sevens.It was a deserved victory in the final for the SA team who, in the longer 10-minute-a-side title-decider, demonstrated more flair and speed, as well as a suffocating and hugely committed defence. Ultimately, it earned them a three tries to one advantage.
A star in the making
Robert Ebersohn, who was still in school in 2007, got South Africa onto the board first with a long range effort that was his seventh try of the tournament. His debut came at the Hong Kong Sevens, but already Ebersohn plays the game with the insight of a veteran; clearly, he is a star in the making.
Just before halftime smart work between Renred Dazel and MJ Mentz opened up space for Fabian Juries down the right hand touchline. He turned on the afterburners to hold off New Zealand's speedy Zar Lawrence and dot down out wide.
Dazel missed the difficult conversion, leaving South Africa 10-0 up at the break.
New Zealand reply
New Zealand struck back early in the second half when Victor Vito crossed for a converted try, leaving South Africa only three points to the good at 10-7 in front.
Paul Treu's charges then nearly increased their lead when Juries chipped over the top of the New Zealand defenders and led the chase for the ball at the Kiwi 22-metre line. The bounce was unkind, however, and the men in black recovered.
South Africa continued pressing and were rewarded once more when they scored a match-clinching third try. Ebersohn, with some incisive footwork, drew two players wide on the right before passing back inside to Juries, who crashed over the tryline with two players on his back.
Unbeaten streak ended
When the
final whistle sounded, SA's victory had brought to an end a brilliant unbeaten streak of 47 matches by the Kiwis.
After falling to the New Zealanders in the previous two Sevens Series finals – 27-12 in San Diego and 26-12 in Hong Kong - the victory was especially sweet for coach Paul Treu; he admitted in a television interview that he had prepared a victory speech for his team early in the season but through the five previous rounds he had been unable to use it.
It was a tough path to the final for Neil Powell and company. They opened with a 43-0 thrashing of the USA, but after that they only once topped 20 points. That came in their next game when they came from behind to edge Canada 21-17. In the match to decide the winner of Pool C, SA beat Australia 19-7 thanks to an outstanding defensive effort.
Extra time victory
Kenya were beaten 19-5 in the quarterfinals. In the semi-finals, it required another come from behind win for SA to
advance to the final. A late try against Samoa levelled the scores at 12-all after regulation time. Fabian Juries then clinched the match with a try in extra time after a neat chip and chase.
Victory in the Plate final went to Tonga, who held off Kenya 14-12, while Argentina won the Bowl final with a 26-21 win over the USA. Wales clinched the Shield title with a 12-7 victory over Canada.
Juries, the leading try scorer in the Sevens World Series this season with 35, was named player of the Adelaide tournament. The 29-year-old is second on the all-time list with 167 tries, trailing only Argentina's Santiago Gomez Cora, who has 191 tries to his credit.
Series standings
South Africa's victory in Adelaide leaves them in a clear second place in the standings. New Zealand lead the way on 126 points, with SA on 92, third-placed Fiji on 74, and fourth-placed Samoa on 68.
With two events left, South Africa are in a strong position to finish as runners-up.
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