The Blitzboks produced a masterclass in composure and counter-punch rugby on Sunday, defending their HSBC SVNS Cape Town crown with a gritty 21–19 victory over Argentina at DHL Stadium.
It was a final that crackled like a live wire and swung with the unpredictable rhythm of sevens rugby.
Before a roaring two-day crowd of 68,124, the hosts became the first men’s team to retain the Cape Town title, 10 years after these same nations contested the inaugural decider at the venue.
Cape Town belongs to the #Blitzboks 🏆💚
Thanks for lifting us all weekend – your support made it unforgettable.#HSBCSVNSCPT #PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/jRdVzevkXP— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) December 7, 2025
This time the Blitzboks held their nerve when it mattered most, scoring through Christie Grobbelaar, Quewin Nortjé and Nabo Sokoyi, with Ricardo Duarttee knocking over all three conversions.
If Argentina were the matadors charging with purpose, the Blitzboks became the elusive cape, slipping tackles, striking in space and making every moment count.
‘Stay in the moment’ – the mantra that sealed the title
Captain Impi Visser revealed that the team walked into the weekend armed with a simple but powerful motto: stay in the moment.
“We managed to do that and when the big moments came, we were ready for it and could handle it – that was the difference today, I believe,” Visser said.
After a disappointing fifth-place finish in Dubai, the Blitzboks arrived in Cape Town determined to restore their standards and their pride.
“We wanted to come back and rectify things as we did not do justice to the jersey last weekend,” Visser admitted.
“This weekend, playing very tough opponents and beating all of them, proved that we believe in the jersey and what it stands for.”
He extended praise beyond the matchday squad:
“Credit to every player who was involved, but also to those in the extended group, who helped us prepare for these last two weekends. They deserve the accolades just as much as we do.”
The Caoe crowd becomes the eighth man
Cape Town’s support rolled through the bowl of DHL Stadium like a rising tide, lifting the Blitzboks at every stumble and every spark.
“They were instrumental in this win, they brought energy and picked us up every time we made a mistake,” Visser said.
It was a day of personal milestones too. Christie Grobbelaar, a stalwart of the squad, finally tasted victory on home soil, while debutant Nabo Sokoyi scored in the final and carved his name into Cape Town folklore with the swagger of a young surfer catching his first perfect wave.
“Someone like Christie Grobbelaar… could win here for the first time, while debutant Nabo Sokoyi also contributed tremendously in the final. It was a good day to be a Blitzbok,” Visser beamed.
With two tournaments completed, the leaderboard looks like a three-horse sprint with its noses aligned.
South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji are locked on 32 points, followed by France (28), Australia (26) and Argentina (24).
Sevens seasons are marathons disguised as sprints, but the Blitzboks have planted a bold marker: they are back in the title fight.
