Team SA are through to the quarter-finals of the men’s sevens rugby competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics after they swamped Japan 49-5 in their final group game at a packed Stade de France on Thursday.
This was much better from the South Africans, who had lost to Ireland and New Zealand on the first day. The resounding victory means Team SA again meets New Zealand at 9pm in the quarter-finals, and if they win that it will be either Argentina or France in the semis.
Following results in the other groups, Team SA went into the penultimate match of the afternoon session knowing exactly what they required from the game. Simply, beat Japan by 21 or more points and finish eighth, where they’d play the winner of NZ and Ireland. The Kiwis snatched a 14-12 win from the Irish to top Pool A.
The intent was there from the start as Zain Davids went over within a minute and the second try, by Impi Visser, came within three minutes. And when Shilton van Wyk crossed the whitewash, Tristin Leyds converted for a 21-0 lead after only five minutes. Yet another try, the fourth of the first half, arrived when Ryan Oosthuizen dotted down, again converted by Leyds (28-0). Oosthuizen scored his second of the game and Leyds did the extra as Team SA swaggered to a 35-0 half-time lead.
Coach Philip Snyman rang the changes after the break, with Visser, Selvyn Davids and Leyds all making way, and Japan cross for their first try, unconverted (35-5).
However, any thought of a comeback from Japan was extinguished when Rosko Specman dotted down, converted by Ronald Brown. Specman then came off at 42-5 ahead to make place for Sivivi Soyizwapi.
Van Wyk wasn’t finished though and he bagged his second try, which Brown converted as Team SA made an emphatic statement.
The quarter-final draw is
New Zealand vs Team SA
Argentina vs France
Fiji vs Ireland
Australia vs USA
Photo: Roger Sedres/Team SA