Dai Ozawa of Japan, Philip Snyman of South Africa, Nathan Hiriyama of Canada and Scott Riddell of Scotland during Captains photocall and press conference prior to the Hsbc Paris Rugby Sevens on May 11, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport)

Home » Blitzboks Rout Japan After Shock Loss to Scotland in Paris

Blitzboks Rout Japan After Shock Loss to Scotland in Paris

The Blitzboks bounced back from a shock setback against Scotland to beat Japan in Day One action of the Paris Sevens tournament on Saturday… writes MARK ETHERIDGE. They beat Japan 35-5 in their second Pool A clash of the day. Tries by Cecil Afrika and Shakes Soyizwapi saw them lead 14-0 at the break. The […]

By Guest Contributor
13-05-17 17:04
in Fab South African Stuff
Dai Ozawa of Japan, Philip Snyman of South Africa, Nathan Hiriyama of Canada and Scott Riddell of Scotland during Captains photocall and press conference prior to the Hsbc Paris Rugby Sevens on May 11, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport)

The Blitzboks bounced back from a shock setback against Scotland to beat Japan in Day One action of the Paris Sevens tournament on Saturday… writes MARK ETHERIDGE.

Dai Ozawa of Japan, Philip Snyman of South Africa, Nathan Hiriyama of Canada and Scott Riddell of Scotland during Captains photocall and press conference prior to the Hsbc Paris Rugby Sevens on May 11, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport)

They beat Japan 35-5 in their second Pool A clash of the day.

Tries by Cecil Afrika and Shakes Soyizwapi saw them lead 14-0 at the break.

The second try was booed by the home crowd after it had looked like Branco du Preez had knocked the ball on before hoofing it ahead. Soyizwapi in turn also bounced it further ahead off his thigh before collecting and going over near the posts.

Both tries were converted by Du Preez who had also set up the first try of the game.

The second half saw the Blitzboks off to a quick start. Replacement Rosco Speckman had a great run down the left, committing most of the

Japanese defence and Werner Kok burst through down the middle for another converted seven-pointer.

Just over half way through the half and the Japanese, frustrated at not being able to run their way through the Blitzboks defence, opted for a ranging kick down the left flank but after the ball went loose it was Africa who collected and ran two-thirds of the pitch and make it 28-0 with the conversion. It was Series try No153 for Africa

With 1:49 left to play it was Soyizwapi who picked up his second try of the game when he went around his opponent down the left and under the posts.

Ninety seconds after the hooter the Japanese finally got on the board after running from their goal-line. Naomi Motomura wasn’t clearly held in the tackle and got back to his feet and even speedster Soyizwapi was too exhausted to give chase.

In the earlier game it seemed the pressure of knowing they are so close to sealing the overall series had perhaps got to the Blitzboks.

They looked a shadow of the side that has dominated this series.

The South Africans went up 5-0 early on before two quick tries by Jamie Farndale and Hugh Blake saw the Scots leading 10-5.

A yellow card to Afrika for what was deemed a neck roll didn’t help matters and Scott Wight made things secure for the Scots to name it 19-5.

There was a late consolation try for Soyizwapi to at least give the Blitzboks double figures but if ever coach Neil Powell and his men needed to know that they are going to have to fight every last centimetre of the way for the overall title this was it.

– See more at: http://www.sascoc.co.za/2017/05/13/blitzboks-rout-japan-after-shock-loss-to-scots/