By Lucky Maree
It doesn’t get any easier, does it?
After dealing the brilliant victory against the All Blacks, the Blitzboks need more brilliance in the semi-final match to beat Fiji.
No disrespect to Neil Powell, but this side under Sandile Ngcobo have shown a kind of spirited commitment in match after match against the other top teams in the world that has not been seen, literally, for years.
Dalvon Blood, Shilton van Wyk and Jaiden Baron (the first-half try-scorers) just simply rip apart the Fijian defence.
It seems a strange thing to say, but by halftime, Fiji have not been in the match for one minute as the Blitzboks score three tries to none.
Early in the second half, Fiji look like scoring but are stopped by a miraculous defence.
The Alliance venue in Sydney has been described as a home venue for Fiji. The very partisan crowd are overjoyed when Fiji score a well-deserved (unconverted) try in the corner.
Fiji are back in the match, but with one minute to go, the result is put out of doubt as Jaidon Baron wins a race to the try line to score and just to make the victory doubly certain, Shilton van Wyk intercepts a desperate Fiji pass for the simplest of scores.
Sadly, Ricardo Duarttee came off with a shoulder injury that might keep him out of the final. But for now, victory is so sweet.
Blitzboks will play the All Blacks in the final at 11.26 am. More miracles are needed after the All Blacks took apart a demotivated French side by 36-5. What a delightful prospect!
Blitzboks (five tries) 31-12 (two tries) Fiji
Pictured above: Tricky Ricky Duarttee — one of the Blitzbok superstars.
Image source: HSBC Sevens
