Australia scored in extra-time to send the Blitzboks packing in their Cup semi-final at the Perth Sevens on Sunday morning.
In a dramatic, grandstand finish, the teams finished regular deadlocked at 12-12, sending the game to extra-time with the golden point (whichever team scores first, wins) rule.
After the kick-off to start extra-time, a string a penalties went the way of the Aussies and Ryan Oosthuizen was controversially yellow card. Replays clearly showed he was nowhere near the ball carrier, so he couldn’t have committed the foul that resulted in the penalty.
And that is what ultimately sunk the Blitzboks. The man down disadvantage was just too much for the defence to handle, allowing Australia to score the match-winner in the right corner where there was a big overlap.
Australia scored early with James Turner dotting down after a multi-phase attack. But the Blitzboks responded in the best possible way when Selvyn Davids showed wonderful composure and decision-making to spark an attack before finding himself on the end of the final pass to finish off what he started.
The Blitzboks dominated the rest of the first half and created to great scoring opportunities, but Ronald Brown were denied on both occasions, leaving the teams deadlocked at the turn.
The second half got off to a bad start for the South Africans, who conceded a penalty for playing the man in the air from the kick-off, but Australia failed to capitalise on their good fortune.
By contrast, the Blitzboks scored at the first opportunity that came their way. Quewin Nortje stole the ball on the ground and they spread it wide to Davids, who scuttled away to bag his and the team’s second try.
The hosts would draw level with their second try, but the conversion that would have put them in front hit the posts, setting up a dramatic grandstand final minute of action.
The Blitzboks had one final attack before the whistle, but when Dewald Human threw a loose pass, Australia pounced on possession. Soon after, the Blitzboks were penalised and with the clock already in stoppage time, Australia opted to kick at goal. But when Scott Higginbotham’s shot flew under the posts, the game when to extra-time, meaning the golden point rule.
WILL THE BLITZBOKS GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CUP FINAL IN PERTH?
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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/blitzboks/blitzboks-controversially-knocked-out-against-home-side-in-perth/
