South Africa stun New Zealand to grab Commonwealth gold
South Africa stunned four-time champions New Zealand with a nail-biting 17-12 final victory to seal Commonwealth Games rugby sevens gold at Ibrox Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa stunned four-time champions New Zealand with a nail-biting 17-12 final victory to seal Commonwealth Games rugby sevens gold at Ibrox Stadium on Sunday.
Tries from Seabelo Senatla (2) and Cecil Afrika, one converted by Branco du Preez, were enough for the Springboks to inflict a first-ever Commonwealth defeat on the previously all-conquering All Blacks.
New Zealand, who were on a winning streak of 30 Commonwealth matches that stretched back to a Jonah Lomu-inspired side that won gold in the inaugural rugby sevens tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, scored two tries through Sherwin Stowers and Joe Webber, Gillies Kaka nailing one conversion.
This feeling is the greatest. We as South Africans are so proud ... we always strive to be the best in the world
In front of 171,000 raucous spectators over four sessions, the tournament was again a massive boost for the abbreviated form of the game which makes its Olympic debut in Rio in 2016.
"This feeling is the greatest," said key Springboks playmaker Afrika. "We as South Africans are so proud. Rugby is our national sport, we always strive to be the best in the world.
"The Commonwealth Games is a one-off tournament. As a squad we want to take this forward to the Rio Olympics. I know we have made the people back home proud."
New Zealand skipper DJ Forbes was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "It's disappointing. For maybe 10 or 11 minutes of that 20-minute final we were just a little bit off pace.
"They put pressure on us but we had a chance to win the game. But it didn't go to plan and that's rugby.