Latest news with #ZachFranzen
IOL News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Unbeaten Blitzboks aim for victory against New Zealand in SVNS World Championship knockout
Speedster Shilton van Wyk dots down the winning try for the Blitzboks against Great Britain at the Los Angeles SVNS on Saturday. Image: Zach Franzen / World Rugby The Blitzboks will face arch-rivals New Zealand on Saturday evening for a place in the finals of the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles after an undefeated group stage at the final tournament of the season. South Africa delivered near-perfect second-half performances against France and Argentina and a strong display on defence against Great Britain to secure their spot in the final four. However, improved plays, especially in the first half, will be needed if they want to bag the title later on Saturday evening and early Sunday morning should they make the finals. It's still a long wait until the semis at Dignity Health Sports Park against the Kiwis (10.46 pm start), but it will give the Blitzboks plenty of time to prepare for what could be one of their biggest knockout games of the year. They laid a good foundation for the duel by knocking over the Argentines 29-21 in a fighting display having to come back from being a score down right before halftime to grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half. Two quick-fire tries by the SVNS Series titleholders with Siviwe Soyiwazpi in the sin bin put the Blitzboks on the backfoot after playmaker Ronald Brown opened the scoring. Forward Ryan Oosthuizen's equalising converted score levelled things at the break which was exactly what the side needed. They came out firing with Soyizwapi, hotstepper Shilton van Wyk and Selvyn Davids claiming the tries that floored the Argentines and allowed for a comfortable 29-14 lead. A consolation try for Argentina at the end brought the result closer. The South Africans had a better start to the game against Great Britain – a team they always found tricky to beat. They got out to an early 12-0 start and had to defend as if their lives depended on it in the second half to claim a 12-7 victory eventually. In the opener against France, they quickly found themselves trailing 10-0 towards the end of the first half and it looked like they would have that old ailment of being slow out the blocks. But, a vital try on the stroke of halftime by captain Davids and further scores from Van Wyk and hard-working forward Zain Davids in the second stanza, secured the game to get the Blitzboks going.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Blitzboks, SA women face tough competition at Los Angeles Sevens Championship
LA Sevens The captains of the teams competing at the SVNS Championship and Playoff tournament in Los Angeles ahead of the competition. Photo: World Rugby Image: Alex Ho & Zach Franzen / World Rugby There will be one last shot at a piece of silverware for the Blitzboks when they start the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles on Saturday. While a victory in Cape Town in December was the last time the Springbok Sevens lifted a trophy, they've shown glimpses throughout the season of their abilities, and will have to put everything together over the weekend if they want to win. It's the all-important trophy they want to fight for in the one-off competition, and it will be a clear indication for head coach Philip Snyman of the growth or lack thereof in the side over the last couple of months. There is no argument that they are in the so-called 'group of death', facing last season's Championship victors France, SVNS Series winners Argentina and Great Britain, who defeated the South Africans at the last tournament in Singapore. So, captain Selvyn Davids and his men will have their work cut out for them if they want to get out of the pool stages to the playoffs. According to speedster Shilton van Wyk, they are ready for that challenge. 'We know we can beat any team, and we showed that, even in our most recent outing in Singapore, where we managed a win over Argentina, the series winners, despite not playing at our best,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Eyes on the prize for the #Blitzboks as the end of the #HSBCSVNS season looms ✅#PoweredByUnity — Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) April 30, 2025 'That was the frustrating part when we let ourselves down in matches, but we have arrived here in Los Angeles determined to finish strong.' The Blitzboks reached a couple of targets – one was finishing in the top four during the regular season – which they achieved. Now, they want to get back on the podium with another winner's medal around their necks. For the Springbok Women's Sevens, a different target will be on their minds, but one that could bring plenty of success ahead of next season. Shilton van Wyk knows what the #Blitzboks need to do to finish the #HSBCSVNS season on a high in LA this weekend - more here: 🔭#PoweredByUnity — Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) April 30, 2025
