By Lucky Vince Pienaar
➤ The battles for the non-medal positions. By the time the Blitzboks and France ran out into the magnificent Stade de France at St Denis, the 79 000 spectators had already been treated to a perfect curtain-raiser when New Zealand and Argentina played to a golden-point victory for the All Blacks in extra time.
Both Ireland and the United States brought their A-game as first the Wallabies and the USA scored one try each in the first half. The USA broke the deadlock with two minutes to go but Ireland scored two tries in the last two minutes to win the match.
➤ Minutes before the match. It’s been a tough journey for South Africa to end up in the last four of the Olympic Sevens. They face a fired-up French side playing in front of a very partisan home crowd, but the dream has come true. The Blitzboks stand on the verge of bringing home a medal (bronze, silver or gold) to South Africa.
➤ South Africa versus France. The Blitzboks have pretty much their best possible team with three playmakers, Shilton van Wyk, Tristan Leyds and Selvyn Davids on the field.
For the first seven minutes the Blitzboks give as good as they get as the rain falls and the French sing patriotic songs.
The Blitzboks have stayed in the fight and are defending as befits the men in green and gold. France can consider themselves slightly lucky to have come away without conceding points.
The second half starts with South Africa on the attack for the first minute and an enormous roar greets poster boy Antoine Dupont as he runs out onto the pitch.
The breakthrough comes after four minutes when Tristan Leyds scores in the corner (Blitz 5-0 France)
But then the French break out as Rayan Rebbadj scores twice and Jordan Sepho once. (Blitz 5-29 France)
France will play for the gold medal, South Africa will play for the bronze.
Blitzboks (1 try) 5-19 (3 tries) France
Argentina (2 tries) 12-15 (3 tries) New Zealand
Ireland (3 tries) 17-14 (2 tries) USA
Pictured above: Blitzboks
Source: X
