Amazing comeback victory for Blitzbokke

A last-gasp try from replacement Sibusiso Sithole capped possibly the greatest comeback victory in Sevens rugby as the Blitzbokke came from 35-19 down to beat Australia 36-35 in the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens final on Sunday.

In a match where there were so many factors against them, losing three players – including inspirational captain Kyle Brown – before the game to injury, and Paul Delport during the match, the Blitzbokke looked dead and buried more than once in the game before storming back to clinch it.

Video highlights - SA v Samoa (Cup quarterfinal)
Video highlights – SA v Wales (Cup semifinal)
Video highlights – SA v Australia (Cup Final)

They trailed 21-7 at the break, 28-7 after conceding a try from the kickoff in the second half, and were then 35-19 down with three minutes to play. But amazingly they managed to win every kickoff, and struck when it counted.

On a day where there were plenty of heroes to be found, Sithole emerged as the match-winner with a try after the hooter, handing off Australia’s two-try star Bernard Foley and then sprinting away from Henry Vanderglas to score an amazing individual try to take the game, and the title.

It is the second title in as many weeks after their gutsy win in London last week, where the Blitzbokke were criticised for employing 15-man tactics in defeating Fiji in an equally epic final.

The victory not only ended the season on a massive high for coach Paul Treu, but also secured second spot on the IRB Sevens overall standings, just 26 points behind victors New Zealand.

Considering a tournament victory is 24 points, it shows that with a bit more luck in the beginning of the season, this side could have been challenging for honours.

But back to Murrayfield. On a cold and blustery day where the wind was as much a factor as the opposition, the Blitzbokke showed their class to end the tournament unbeaten after a demolition job over Samoa in the quarters and a nail-biting 22-19 win over Wales in the semis.

But the final was where it counted, and after looking like they were handing the title to Australia, the Blitzbokke stormed back, scoring 22 points in just four minutes, showing just how much fight is in this side.

The Australians started well, tackling like demons and allowing the Boks no space, and were rewarded on their first foray into South African territory as Bernard Foley found his way through a gap to score.

Vanderglass followed him onto the scoresheet shortly afterwards as Australia racked up an early 14-0 lead.

Steven Hunt, who scored a hat-trick in the game, managed to get one back just before the break, thanks to a beautiful inside flip from hardman Frankie Horne, but just as it looked as if the Boks were back in it, they conceded a long-range try to Jonathan Lance to go into the break 21-7 behind.

Things got worse when the second half got underway as Foley took the ball straight back upfield, beating Boom Prinsloo’s tackle and sending Vanderglass away for his second.

At 28-7 it looked as if there was only one team on the field, and there was little evidence of the drama to come.

AMAZING TURNAROUND

Frankie Horne and Bernardo Botha grabbed tries back, using his speed to good effect, but the game looked over as Ed Jenkins scored to put Australia 35-19 ahead.

But then the most amazing turnaround started. From the kickoff, the Boks won the ball, found space and sent Steven Hunt hurtling down the sideline for the try.

While Cecil Afrika missed the conversion, with 90 seconds left the next kickoff was won in the same fashion, and while the try came on the other side of the field, Hunt grabbed his hat-trick to give the Boks hope.

There were 13 seconds left when Horne won the ball and took it upfield, but when Sithole touched it, time was up on the clock. He looked up and darted, backing himself, knowing it was glory or nothing.

And after the handoff, the road was open. Sithole ran down the touchline like a man on a mission. The dive was overkill, but nobody cared. The celebrations had started, the Blitzbokke had won and Australian hearts were broken.

In a game where magic is an overused word, this final capped a great season, spurred on by an amazing comeback which will do more to sell rugby’s Olympic product than any marketing video.

And the IRB, – and the entire South Africa – have Treu’s sleepless nights, and Sithole’s brilliance in the moment to thank for that.

SUNDAY'S RESULTS Cup Final – South Africa 36 - 35 Australia
Cup Semifinal – South Africa 22 - 19 Wales
Cup Semifinal – Australia 19 - 12 New Zealand
Cup Quarterfinal – Wales 13 - 10 France
Cup Quarterfinal – South Africa 28 - 5 Samoa
Cup Quarterfinal – Australia 24 - 14 Fiji
Cup Quarterfinal – New Zealand 26 - 12 England