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NZ make history, trounce Boks
11/02/2008 07:44 - (SA)
San Diego - The Springbok Sevens team have been beaten 27-12 by New Zealand in the final of the US-leg of the IRB Sevens series.
The South Africans made the Kiwis sweat before succumbing to the power of a team that is proving nigh on unbeatable - the All Blacks have now won a record 36 consecutive matches in the IRB series and, having won the first four legs of the current series, are virtually uncatchable with four legs to go.
Paul Treu's South African team is now second in the standings, having overhauled Samoa, who they also happened to beat in the semi-finals.
Making the final was an accomplishment for the Boks after they had lost 14-10 to England on the first day in a game where nothing went right for them.
But on Sunday the South Africans returned to their clinical best, sweeping aside Argentina in the quarterfinals and Samoa in the semis.
In the final, the South Africans had a disastrous start to the first half when Frankie Horn was sin-binned for a spear tackle.
It goes without saying that playing this Sevens machine a man down is fatal and so it proved to be. The Kiwis ran in three quick tries and at 17-0 it seemed that it would be a one-sided final. But on the half-time hooter, Mzwandile Stick scored a lovely try to give his team hope.
And the final burst into life seconds into the second half when Vuyo Zanqa scored a spectacular chip-and-chase try down the touchline. At 17-12, it was game on.
The New Zealanders sealed the match two minutes from time when they cashed in yet again on their biggest strength - the ability to turn over ball at the tackle and scamper through against the run of play.
They did the same thing on the final hooter for their final try.
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