SA lose Plate final, Eng win Dubai 7s
by Brenden Nel 03 December 2011, 18:51
Australian speedster Lewis Holland continued the heartbreak for the Springbok Sevens team as he scored after the hooter to give his team a 17-14 win in the Plate final of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens today.
The Blitzbokke looked as if they were going to get some consolation after bowing out in poor fashion earlier in the tournament when they lost badly to France in the first surprise of the day in the quarterfinals of the tournament. But just when it mattered most they slipped two tackles again and Holland didn’t need a second invitation to go for the tryline to seal the match.
It was a firm reminder of the inconsistency that has plagued the Blitzbokke through this tournament, as they bounced back from their defeat against France by clinically dismantling Wales in the Plate semifinals.
Coach Paul Treu could hardly hide his disappointment with the way the team had played in their crucial games on Saturday.
“I was very disappointed with the way we played, because we ended day one on a high with our win over New Zealand and we expected to keep that momentum with us going into day two,” Treu told SuperSport.com.
“Unfortunately for us, we never got out of second gear against France, and we never played to our standards. In the Plate final we had our opportunities, but we didn’t take them and they did. We need to be disappointed, we weren’t as clinical as we were hoping to be.
“If we can just take the positives out of the last two weeks and take into our home tournament in PE and just try to give it our best.”
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Treu said the Boks had lost an opportunity especially as some of their contenders also struggled in Dubai.
“Everything was in our favour, including the draw we had and we did the damage on day one of the tournament,” he explained, “But if you’re not going to be at your best and play to the level required by the tournament then you will suffer. Hopefully our players have learnt their lessons and will take those into their play next week in Port Elizabeth.”
The final was eventually won by England, who put out both New Zealand in the quarters and Fiji in the semis, and deservedly defended their Dubai Sevens crown. England beat France 29-12 in a one-sided final, with South African-born winger Matt Turner playing a massive part in the victory.
*There were mixed results in other areas as the SA Womens team lost 28-0 to Spain in their Plate final of the IRB Womens Challenge competition.
In the International Men’s Invitation tournament, South Africa’s B team – playing under the name Dubai Samurai, beat HSF Wailers –England’s second stringers – 29-21 in the final.