The Hong Kong curse hit the Springbok Sevens facet and hit it laborious.
As a consequence, the Blitzboks’ hopes on this 12 months’s HSBC World SVNS Collection has taken an enormous blow.
Fourth earlier than the enduring Hong Kong event the Blitzboks struggled as they at all times appear to do within the island, and never solely didn’t give themselves an opportunity to get their first ever win in Hong Kong, however couldn’t even qualify for the quarterfinals of the Cup event.
After their loss to Australia on Friday the Blitzboks wanted to beat New Zealand on Saturday to get to the Cup quarters, however misplaced 17-7 in opposition to their arch rivals, and the very fact they couldn’t get a bonus level meant that Eire went via because the fortunate loser and South Africa was left with a absolute best ninth spot within the event.
They received their ninth place play-off in opposition to Uruguay 33-7 on Saturday morning and now will face Kenya for the ninth place on Sunday at 6am.
However ending outdoors the highest eight and prime 4 can be an enormous blow to their title hopes, and means they’ll have a troublesome pool draw for the subsequent event in Singapore subsequent weekend. In fact the brand new rule that for again to again tournaments there isn’t any quarterfinal and solely pool winners advance to the semifinals makes it harder if the draw is additional robust.
A part of the issue within the Hong Kong event has been a scarcity of ball retention and holes within the defence, as each Australia and New Zealand exploited that.
The group’s strike skill was hampered, a lot in order that Australia loved a 26-0 lead and New Zealand a 17-0 lead of their video games, underlining the issues that coach Philip Snyman has to work out.
Towards New Zealand Donavan Don scored on the demise to permit it to not be a whitewash but it surely was little comfort for the efficiency that was disappointing.
Towards Uruguay debutant Gino Cupido was spectacular once more, scoring a brace of tries so as to add to his first attempt Friday, whereas Impi Visser, Shilton van Wyk and Dewald Human added their names to the scoresheet within the win.
However no matter occurs in opposition to Kenya, the Blitzboks will see this as a disappointment and are positive to drop down from their fourth spot on the rankings coming into this event.
