South Africa qualify for 7s World Cup
South Africa have won the African Sevens Championship – but the gap is closing.
Published by John Birch, September 17th, 2017
3 minute read
As well as the continental championship, three other matters were decided in Tunisia this weekend:
* South Africawill be Africa’s representative at the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco* South AfricaandKenyaqualify for the Commonwealth Games (alongside Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, New Zealand and Wales) – as long as SASCOC accept South Africa’s invitation.* South AfricaandKenyaare likely to be invited to the World Series qualifier in Hong Kong, though this has yet to be confirmed by World Rugby.
South Africa and Kenya were by far the strongest teams on day one, each only conceding a single try on their way to the top two seedings. However, Madagascar also impressed beating Zimbabwe to end runner-up in Pool B, and moreover winning third seeding for the quarter-finals, while hosts Tunisia took the fourth seeding spot.
On day two both South Africa and Kenya reached the semi-finals with ease. Sinaida Aura scored four tries as Kenya beat Morocco 47-0, while South Africa cruised to a 43-0 victory against Senegal in the Cup quarter-final as they showed intent on attack. In other games Madagascar – the surprise team from Day one – were surprisingly beaten by Uganda, and Zimbabwe lost to Tunisia.
South Africa achieved another shut out in their semi-final against Uganda in the first semi-final. In the second semi-final Janet Okello opened the scoring for Kenya with Janet Owino adding the extras but the hosts Tunisia equalized just before the break for a 7-7 score. Kenya would be reduced to six players after winger Sinaida Aura was sent to the bin but Tunisia failed to take advantage, before Okelo and captain Phila Olando won it for Kenya 24-7.
In the final South Africa took an early lead via an unconverted try but Kenya hit back through Sinaida Aura and Janet Okello, leading 12-5. But as in the semi-final, discipline let them down in the second half - and this time it did not go unpunished, South Africa scoring twice to win the tournament 17-12.
Pool A: South Africa 45-0 Morocco; Tunisia 15-10 Uganda; South Africa 24-0 Uganda; Tunisia 33-5 Morocco; South Africa 17-7 Tunisia; Uganda 29-0 Morocco
Pool B: Kenya 27-5 Madagascar; Zimbabwe 15-5 Senegal; Kenya 38-0 Senegal; Zimbabwe 17-28 Madagascar; Kenya 40-0 Zimbabwe; Senegal 0-36 Madagascar
Quarter-finals: South Africa 43-0 Senegal; Kenya 47-0 Morocco; Madagascar 5-12 Uganda; Tunisia 24-7 Zimbabwe
5th/8th semi-finals: Senegal 24-7 Morocco; Madagascar 29-7 Zimbabwe
7th place final:Morocco 0-26 Zimbabwe
5th place final:Senegal 5-24 Madagascar
Semi-finals:South Africa 27-0 Uganda; Kenya 26-7 Tunisia
Bronze final:Uganda 26-7 Tunisia
Gold final:South Africa 17-12 Kenya