Cheslin Kolbe’s devastating footwork provided the inspiration as the Springbok Sevens clinched a place in the Sydney Sevens Cup semi-finals with a 26-0 win over Argentina on Sunday.
The Blitzboks will take on hosts Australia in the last four (7.19am SA time on Sunday), while New Zealand and Fiji will face off in the other semi-final (6.57am).
Stormers fullback Kolbe produced his trademark sidestep to break open the Cup quarter-final against Los Pumas with a sensational try in the first half that relieved the pressure that had been built up by the South Americans.
The 22-year-old also opened the scoring for the Blitzboks as he combined with Rosko Specman and Seabelo Senatla to get inside the Argentinian 22, and the ball was recycled and sent Kolbe’s way again by Juan de Jongh, and he trotted over the tryline.
Argentina came back into the contest and managed to put together some good phase-play, but their execution was seldom sound and they often chose the wrong option. One such instance saw them advance to the South African 10-metre line, but then a poor kick forward was swept up by Kolbe, who cleared for touch.
A few minutes later, Argentina again carried the ball strongly into the Blitzboks’ 22, as they made good progress out wide and close to the touchline. Nicolas Bruzzone and captain Santiago Alvarez were particularly influential, but they lost their composure as the South African defence swarmed all over their opponents.
The in-your-face approach led to a turnover on the Blitzboks’ 22 as Argentina dropped the ball, and also set up Kolbe’s unbelievable touchdown.
After some scrappy passing, De Jongh flicked the ball up to Kolbe, who first took a few steps back to his 22 as he waited for his teammates’ support, and then he produced his famous body swerve to one side and then the step to the other to leave Fernando Luna for dead and run all the way to score near the posts.
That gave the South Africans some breathing space before halftime, and they could’ve had another try as Specman was in the clear following a Carel du Preez turnover at the breakdown, but Specman somehow lost control of the ball as he burst forward towards the line.
The Blitzboks continued their ferocious contesting at the breakdowns after halftime, with Francois Hougaard winning the ball inside his own half, and soon thereafter, Senatla ran in his seventh try of the tournament.
Smith added the finishing touches when he pounced on a loose ball on his own 22 after Argentina wasted an attacking lineout, and galloped over 60 metres to dot down.
Bok Sevens coach Neil Powell would’ve been pleased to see Smith on the field after the loose forward sustained a wrist injury against Scotland on Saturday.
But stand-in captain Philip Snyman (shoulder) didn’t run out for the quarter-final, and he is unlikely to be risked for the Australian game either as Powell stated on Saturday that he didn’t want Snyman’s problem to worsen and potentially rule him out of the Rio Olympics in August.
Australia secured their date with the Blitzboks by beating England 17-12 in extra time, with 18-year-old Henry Hutchinson scoring the sudden-death winning try.
In the other two Cup quarter-finals, New Zealand outlasted USA 24-7, while Fiji were too strong for Kenya in a 28-12 victory.
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Points-Scorers
South Africa - Tries: Cheslin Kolbe (2), Seabelo Senatla, Kwagga Smith. Conversions: Rosko Specman (3).
Sydney Sevens Cup semi-finals (SA times)
6.57am: New Zealand vs Fiji.
7.19am: South Africa vs Australia.