Selvyn Davids scored a brace as the Blitzboks beat Canada 26-12 on day one of the Singapore Sevens on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Blitzboks, but in the end, their superior physicality and defence earned them a win against the gutsy Canucks.
Canada put South Africa under pressure in the early stages and Andrew Coe turned their dominance into points after he was freed up for an easy run-in by playmaker Pat Kay.
A mistake from the kick-off gave the Blitzboks a free-kick on the halfway line and from there, big Zain Davids went on a barnstorming run from midfield. When he eventually went to ground, the ball was spread wide to Siviwe Soyizwapi, who finished off in the corner.
REPORT: Blitzboks see off Samoa
Thereafter, Cecil Africa left Kay in his wake with a lethal step around and darted away to give his side the lead at half-time.
Poor ball protection followed by some poor defence by South Africa after the restart allowed Canada to hit back when speedster Tevaughn Campbell finished neatly in the right-hand corner to make it a two-point game.
But the Blitzboks held their nerve under pressure. The elusive Selvyn Davids scored two breakaway tries late in the game to seal the victory to keep South Africa at the top of the pool standings with one game to go.
Blitzboks remaining fixtures (Day 1):
vs Argentina (13:00)
Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter
