Perfect Seabelo Senatla completes perfect day for Blitzboks

The Blitzboks were patience and calmness personified as they beat a worthy Kenyan side by 26-7 on Saturday night to end the group phase of the Cape Town tournament of the World Sevens Series unbeaten.

Neil Powell’s charges certainly didn’t have it all their way against their continental counterparts, whose at times brutal physicality made defending pretty awkward.

Veteran Kyle Brown certainly felt the brunt of that after he was knocked off his stride in the first half but he soldiered on superbly.

In fact, it was is dot-down that calmed South Africa’s nerves.

They had just conceded a soft try to Willy Ambaka due to some poor control from a kick-off, which was brilliantly converted to tie the scores at 7-all.

Typically though, the Blitzboks found a way to hit back as Branco du Preez’s jinking run helped his side progress into the strike zone.

Kenya were so panicked that they went off their feet at the breakdown, shown a yellow card, and were duly punished by Brown.

Things continued to be tight in the second half but the East Africans were their own worst enemies, spilling possession 12 times.

The Blitzboks predictably fed off those mistakes.

Captain Philip Snyman gave the South Africans a buffer when Cecil Afrika stole from a breakdown and off-loaded beautifully.

And just add a cherry on top, Seabelo Senatla added the final score.

It was the end to a brilliant day for him…

The Blitzboks will take on Fiji in their cup quarterfinal at 12.04pm on Sunday.

Scorers:

Blitzboks – Tries: Ruhan Nel, Kyle Brown, Philip Snyman, Seabelo Senatla. Conversions: Branco du Preez (2), Cecil Afrika.

Kenya  – Try: Willy Ambaka. Conversion: Brian Tanga.

Blitzboks 31 – France 5

The Blitzboks’ gritty 31-5 victory over France was a double celebration.

Senatla delivered the most poignant moment of the match as he ran in for his 200th try in the series, the first South African to ever do so.

However, it was the manner in which that special score was set up that should’ve also been celebrated.

With France looking to stay in contention, the Blitzboks poached from the breakdown and fed Justin Geduld, who drew two defenders before passing to Senatla.

That sequence of play was the story of South Africa’s performance: they once again used pressure to force mistakes and score points on the counter.

It’s the gift that simply keeps on giving.

Powell’s men certainly had to fall back on that strategy after a slow start to the game.

South Africa struggled for possession in the first half but still managed to take the lead after Cecil Afrika’s brilliant pass created space for Ruhan Nel.

Smith rounded off from close range after the attacking movement was kept alive well.

But France hit back on the counter with a splendid team try, started by the bulky Josias Daoudou, whose turn of pace and power created havoc.

Stephen Parez also handed off a defender to score.

The Blitzboks had work to do as they only went into the break 7-5 ahead and relished the responsibility.

Snyman started the revival when he skilfully stole a ball at the breakdown for an untouched run-in before Afrika’s cheeky kick forward from a penalty was snapped up by Chris Dry.

That score made the game safe.

Senatla then created his own slice of history and Nel provided a late show-stopper, handing off a defender three times on his way over the whitewash.

Scorers:

Blitzboks – Tries: Kwagga Smith, Philip Snyman, Chris Dry, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel. Conversions: Branco du Preez (2), Cecil Afrika.

France – Try: Stephen Parez.

Blitzboks 40 – Russia 5

Senatla started his weekend in the Mother City in the best way possible in this match.

South Africa’s star finisher completed a superb first-half hat-trick to move on to 199 career tries.

His first try came from the first kick-off of the match after the towering Tim Agaba brilliant won possession in the air.

The ball went quickly down the line where Senatla backed his pace on the outside.

Good defensive play by Kyle Brown led to a penalty shortly afterwards and Afrika’s quick tap found Branco du Preez at pace.

Russia hit back with a try through Roman Roshchin as the Blitzboks’ sometimes lax defence against physical runners cost them again but that score wasn’t enough to add more pressure on the home side.

Senatla ran in for his second when a weird floated pass by Smith drifted forward in a strong wind – catching the Russian tacklers off-guard – before a knock-on in midfield saw Smith snap up possession and feed his brilliant teammate for his third.

The Blitzboks didn’t encounter much resistance in the second half.

Dry sucked in two defenders before giving a scoring pass to Agaba and replacement Geduld delightfully exploited a flat defensive line with a kick foward that was gathered by Rosko Specman.

Scorers:

Blitzboks – Tries: Seabelo Senatla (3), Branco du Preez, Tim Agaba, Rosko Specman. Conversions: Du Preez (3), Cecil Afrika, Justin Geduld.

Russia – Try: Romain Roshchin.