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Blitzboks on track for fifth Dubai title after thriller semi-final against Fiji

The Blitzboks stayed on track for a fifth consecutive title in Dubai after beating Fiji 14-7 in a semi-final thriller.

The South Africans held firm against the fast-starting Fijians in the first half and were able to turn the tide with clever tactical kicking to keep play in Fiji's half before Justin Geduld dotted down for the only try in the opening half.

Fiji levelled with a try from Pilipo Bukayara in the second half, but the South Africans retaliated quickly when Masande Mtshali followed up a kick into Fiji's red zone, scoring after pressure on the isolated Fijian defender.

Going into the match, the teams had three wins apiece against each other from last season.

South Africa will face Argentina in the final after the latter pipped New Zealand 21-19 in the other semi-final.

The final kicks off at 17:53. 

Scorers:

SA 14 (7)

Tries: Justin Geduld, Masande Mtshali

Conversions: Justin Geduld, Dewald Human 

Fiji 7 (0)

Tries: Pilipo Bukayaro

Conversions: Terio Tamani

Blitzboks beat Australia to reach Cup semi-final in Dubai

South Africa have reached the Cup semi-finals for the first time since the Sydney Sevens last season after beating Australia 24-7 in the Dubai quarter-finals.

Quewin Nortje and Zane Davids dotted down for the South Africans while Australia struggled to get a foothold in the first half until Justin Geduld was yellow-carded on the stroke of half-time for contact to the head.

Nathan Lawson got the breakthrough for the Aussies' only try of the match before the break.

Rosko Specman scored with his first touch in the game in the second half after a sublime kick from Dewald Human put him into space behind the Aussie line. Ronald Brown completed the scoring for the Blitzboks.

They will meet Fiji, who beat Ireland 29-24 in the quarter-finals, in a mouth-watering semi-final clash. 

Scorers

South Africa 24 (12)

Tries: Quewin Nortje, Zane Davids, Rosko Specman, Roland Brown

Conversions: Selvyn Davids (1) Dewald Human (1)

Australia 7 (7)

Tries: Nathan Lawson

Conversions: Maurice Longbottom (1)

Blitzboks stun New Zealand with fightback

The Springbok Sevens side produced a stunning fightback to beat New Zealand 21-19 and progress to the Cup quarter-finals of the Dubai Sevens.

Having started the defence of their title in the desert with wins over Samoa and Canada at the Sevens Stadium on Saturday, South Africa had to beat the Kiwis to secure top spot in Pool A.

The Blitzboks trailed the men in black 19-7 at half-time but scored 14 unanswered points after the restart to stun the series title-holders. The South Africans will face Australia in the quarter-finals on Sunday (08:58 SA time).

Scorers:  

SA 21 (7)

Tries: Quewin Nortje, Ronald Brown, Masande Mtshali

Conversions: Justin Geduld, Brown (2)   

NZ 19 (19)

Tries: Tepaea Cook-Savage, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Moses Leo

Conversions: Cook-Savage (2)

Blitzboks make it two-from-two in Dubai

The Blitzboks secured a clinical win against Canada to make it two from two in their Pool A encounter at the Dubai SVNS on Saturday.

South Africa won 35-14 after leading 21-0 at half-time.

The Blitzboks dominated from start to finish as debutant Quewin Nortje scored a brace.

South Africa's final Pool A encounter will be against New Zealand at 18:44 SA time.

Scorers:

South Africa 35

Tries: Shilton van Wyk, Christie Grobbelaar, Selvyn Davids, Quewin Nortje (2)

Conversions: Justin Geduld (3), Dewald Human (2)

Canada 14

Try: Kalin Sager, Lachlan Kratz 

Conversion: Cooper Coats, Kratz

Fiji strike late to edge Springbok Sevens women 

Fiji scored a late try to clinch a thrilling win against South Africa in their second Pool A encounter on Saturday.

Fiji secured a 22-17 win after leading 14-12 at half-time.

The Springbok Sevens women's team lead with less than five minutes to go for the first half but Reapi Ulunisau completed a brace to secure Fiji the win.

South Africa next take on Great Britain in their final Pool encounter at 15:13 SA time.

Scorers:

Fiji

Tries: Reapi Ulunisau (2), Ana Naimasi

Conversions: Ulunisau, Naimasi (2)

South Africa

Tries: Maria Tshiremba (2), Simamkele Namba

Conversions: Nadine Roos

Blitzboks get Dubai SVNS off to winning ways

The Blitzboks got the new-look World Rugby's sevens series underway with a win as they defeated Samoa in Dubai on Saturday.

South Africa won 22-14 after leading 17-7 at half-time.

It was a convincing win from the Blitzboks, who dominated the first-half and went onto scor four tries through Christie Grobbelaar, Rosko Specman, Shilton van Wyk and Impi Visser.

The Blitzboks next fixture is at 12:58 SA time against Canada.

Scorers:

Samoa 14

Tries: Faafoi Falaniko, Taunuu Niulevaea 

Conversions: Pelasio Samuelu Niuula (2)

South Africa 22

Tries: Christie Grobbelaar, Rosko Specman, Shilton van Wyk, Impi Visser

Conversions: Justin Geduld

The Blitzboks women have already gotten underway, they lost 19-14 to New Zealand.

Scorers:

New Zealand

Tries: Mahina Paul, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Sarah Hirini 

Conversions: Risi Pouri-Lane (2)

South Africa

Tries: Nadine Roos, Maria Tshiremba

Conversions: Roos (2)