By Mark Etheridge
Two tries in each half saw the Blitzboks bulldoze past Samoa 26-10 in the Cup quarter-final of the Dubai Sevens on Saturday.
The Blitzboks continued their unbeaten streak from Friday’s first day of the opening World Series where they’d beaten Uganda, Kenya and Canada.
It took just over a minute for South Africa to score and who other than speedster Seabelo Senatla who went over for his 193rd Series try after Cecil Afrika had intercepted a pass as the Samoas attacked down the left.
The Samoans bounced back to square things when Selesele barged over.
But Senatla was also back for more as he darted this way and that to completely bamboozle the Samoan defence and cross for his fifth try of the tournament.
Halftime saw the score at 12-5 to the Blitzboks and it was the Samoans who fired first with Motuga finishing off after some good work by big Jo Perez who was proving handful to the Blitzboks defence.
Werner Kok then put the Blitzboks back in front after some astute work down the left, being stopped, getting up picking up the loose ball and crossing to make it 17-10.
Then, with around 90 seconds to play it was impact player Tim Agaba who went over for a five-pointer after a sweeping cross-field move.
The successful conversion saw the final score being 26-10 although Agaba was looking a little worse for wear after the final movement of the game, game that was tougher than the scoreline suggests.
The Blitzboks now face Fiji in the Cup semi-final after the Pacific Islanders had beaten Scotland 35-24.
Picture of Branco du Preez in action for the Blitzboks in Dubai courtesy of Roger Sedres/ImageSA