Springbok Sevens ‘A' side crowned champions at Rugby Africa tournament
The Springbok Sevens 'A' side beat Madagascar 26-12 in the final of the Rugby Africa Sevens at the Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius on Sunday afternoon to be crowned continental kings.
The South Africans had enjoyed a tentative start to the tournament, with pool victories over Nigeria, Zambia and Burkina Faso on Saturday's first day. But they grew into the competition with every passing match, also accounting for last year's bogey team, Uganda on Sunday morning.
They booked their place in Sunday's decider with a hard-fought 19-12 win over Zimbabwe's Cheetahs in the first semi-final, courtesy of tries from co-captains Mfundo Ndhlovu and Sebastiaan Jobb.
That match was an extremely physical encounter that descended into an arm wrestle in the second half but the Springbok Sevens 'A' side – a blend of youth and experience – held their nerve, to prevail.
The exciting Madagascar side had beaten Kenya in their semi-final to book their place in the decider.
Ndhlovu had been a potent attacking weapon for the South Africans over the weekend, and was arguably the player of the tournament for Phillip Snyman's side.
His class again shone through in the final, as did Jobb's and Ricardo Duartee's, with 'Tricky Ricky' often living up to his name in igniting South African attacks and dictating play.
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