02-12-2006, 07:27 PM
Cup Final:
South Africa have won the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens, beating New Zealand in the final to take an early lead in the 2006/07 IRB Sevens World Series.
The Boks had playmaker and Player of the Tournament Stefan Basson, plus tireless forwards Jonny Mokwena and Schalk van der Merwe largely to thank as they came from 12-0 down at half-time to score 26 unanswered points and take the title. New Zealand started well and kept up a high intensity level for the first 10 minutes of a fine final in devilish conditions to lead 12-0 at the break following tries for Edwin Cocker and captain Nigel Hunt. Demas had a golden opportunity to score on the stroke of half-time but was unlucky to see his kick ahead stray wide. No matter, though, as Paul Treu's men responded to his every half-time word of advice. Mdaka, Demas and Basson all going over for second half scores to leave spirited New Zealand grasping at shadows.
New Zealand had South Africa on the backfoot through the entire first half. Cocker again opened up the scoring for his team just like he did against Fiji, this time made a lot easier through a desperate inside pass from Hunt before being dragged into touch. The ball was left sitting in the South Africa danger zone, only for Cocker to dive on and score. Some verbal disagreement from Hunt towards the referee soon followed, and the big man was shown a yellow card for his efforts. However, South Africa failed to capitalise with six New Zealand players on the field and paid the price. Within minutes of Hunt returning to fray, the player suffering from verbal diarrhea made up for his earlier blunder by diving into the mud that was almost as filthy as his dirty mouth. The conversion was successful but that was to be the last points New Zealand would score in the competition.
South Africa responded immediately in the second half after a superb break from Philip Burger saw the Cheetahs flyer send a chip kick ahead, only for him to regather, hold off a tackle and offload to the speeding replacement Mdaka to touch down under the poles. Kabamba Floors was next on the scoresheet as the recently capped Springbok finished off a move from some great turnover play from the other side of the field. A New Zealand player was left stranded with no support and South Africa only needed to reclaim possesion, which they did, and send the ball wide. Floors did the rest. It was game on when Mdaka went over for try number two. This time it took some strong running from the replacement to break though the midfield and beat a racing defender to dot down under the posts once again. But it didn't stop there as the game was put out of New Zealand's reach after Basson made a small break from a scrum on the half way line, only to find an unmarked Demas on his right. The thin dreadlocked player turned on the gas to score in the corner and bury the Kiwis. Basson added further insult by nailing a brilliant dropkick conversion from the touchline. And if that wasn't enough, Basson made sure New Zealand were really stuck in the mud after racing through to score on full-time from a fantastic piece of magic between himself and Floors at the line-out.
South Africa have won the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens, beating New Zealand in the final to take an early lead in the 2006/07 IRB Sevens World Series.
The Boks had playmaker and Player of the Tournament Stefan Basson, plus tireless forwards Jonny Mokwena and Schalk van der Merwe largely to thank as they came from 12-0 down at half-time to score 26 unanswered points and take the title. New Zealand started well and kept up a high intensity level for the first 10 minutes of a fine final in devilish conditions to lead 12-0 at the break following tries for Edwin Cocker and captain Nigel Hunt. Demas had a golden opportunity to score on the stroke of half-time but was unlucky to see his kick ahead stray wide. No matter, though, as Paul Treu's men responded to his every half-time word of advice. Mdaka, Demas and Basson all going over for second half scores to leave spirited New Zealand grasping at shadows.
New Zealand had South Africa on the backfoot through the entire first half. Cocker again opened up the scoring for his team just like he did against Fiji, this time made a lot easier through a desperate inside pass from Hunt before being dragged into touch. The ball was left sitting in the South Africa danger zone, only for Cocker to dive on and score. Some verbal disagreement from Hunt towards the referee soon followed, and the big man was shown a yellow card for his efforts. However, South Africa failed to capitalise with six New Zealand players on the field and paid the price. Within minutes of Hunt returning to fray, the player suffering from verbal diarrhea made up for his earlier blunder by diving into the mud that was almost as filthy as his dirty mouth. The conversion was successful but that was to be the last points New Zealand would score in the competition.
South Africa responded immediately in the second half after a superb break from Philip Burger saw the Cheetahs flyer send a chip kick ahead, only for him to regather, hold off a tackle and offload to the speeding replacement Mdaka to touch down under the poles. Kabamba Floors was next on the scoresheet as the recently capped Springbok finished off a move from some great turnover play from the other side of the field. A New Zealand player was left stranded with no support and South Africa only needed to reclaim possesion, which they did, and send the ball wide. Floors did the rest. It was game on when Mdaka went over for try number two. This time it took some strong running from the replacement to break though the midfield and beat a racing defender to dot down under the posts once again. But it didn't stop there as the game was put out of New Zealand's reach after Basson made a small break from a scrum on the half way line, only to find an unmarked Demas on his right. The thin dreadlocked player turned on the gas to score in the corner and bury the Kiwis. Basson added further insult by nailing a brilliant dropkick conversion from the touchline. And if that wasn't enough, Basson made sure New Zealand were really stuck in the mud after racing through to score on full-time from a fantastic piece of magic between himself and Floors at the line-out.
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