The Blitzboks tore through Day One of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town event like a side playing with the wind at their backs and the crowd in their lungs, winning all three pool matches on Saturday to secure a semi-final duel with France at 12:22 on Sunday.
Philip Snyman: “What I do know is that we will be able to draw massive energy from the crowd on Sunday, they really are like an extra player for us” – more here: https://t.co/De6z9U6yHJ 🗣#Blitzboks #PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/D7CMZGwPAR
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) December 6, 2025
Coach Philip Snyman’s charges beat Fiji at the death (24–21), outlasted New Zealand with fierce defensive grit (19–14), and then tore Great Britain to shreds in a 41–7 sprint finish in front of 36,183 fans who roared the home side home.
WATCH | Tricky Ricky scores another great try for the @Blitzboks against Great Britain at the @CapeTown7s pic.twitter.com/zXdgkDBR7P
— Adnaan Mohamed (@Adnaan1111) December 6, 2025
Snyman Hails ‘Character and Composure’
“It was a good day for us, not losing any of our matches and finishing top of the pool,” Snyman said, satisfied yet grounded.
“The format of the tournament is such that even one defeat can drop you out of play-off contention, so it was great to get through the day.”
If day one was a test of skill, the Fiji and New Zealand clashes were examinations of spirit. Twice the Blitzboks trailed, twice they clawed their way back in a rope-a-dope sevens style absorbing hits before striking late.
“We came back in the second half of both matches and that was rewarding for us as a coaching staff to see,” Snyman said.
“Look, we were far from perfect and will have to be better tomorrow, especially in the execution of our plays, but the guys really dug deep. That minute before the halftime break against New Zealand, when we kept them out despite being a man down, was a crucial moment in our day.”
Against Great Britain, the Blitzboks shifted gears as if someone had removed the governor from the engine.
“We controlled the game nicely and left very little out there for them,” Snyman said. “That was a good finish to the day.”
France await next. It’s a side the Blitzboks beat in Dubai a week earlier, but Snyman refused to read from old scripts.
“That was then, this is now,” he said.
“We will have to come out tomorrow, be clinical and even better than today… What I do know is that we will be able to draw massive energy from the crowd on Sunday, they really are like an extra player for us.”
Snyman confirmed medical assessments will determine whether Selvyn Davids and Ronald Brown who are both struggling with niggle, are fit for the semi-final.
“We rested Zander Reynders for the final match as well, but I am expecting him to be 100% in the morning,” Snyman confirmed.
MATCH-BY-MATCH ANALYSIS & SCORERS
Blitzboks 24 (12) – Fiji 21 (14)
A see-saw opening bout ended with Shilton van Wyk completing a hat-trick on the buzzer after Fiji conceded a costly scrum penalty. Ronald Brown tapped quickly, surged inches short, and flicked the pass for Van Wyk to score the winner—classic sevens brinkmanship.
Blitzboks tries: Christie Grobbelaar, Shilton van Wyk (3)
Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee, Ronald Brown
Fiji tries: Apete Narogo, Viwa Naduvalo, Joseva Talacolo
Conversions: Terio Veilawa, George Bose
Blitzboks 19 (0) – New Zealand 14 (7)
A contest thick with tension and yellow cards turned on resolve. Down to five men at one point, the Blitzboks defended like a collapsing scrum that simply refuses to fold. Donavan Don’s try ignited the comeback before Van Wyk and Brown completed the counterpunch.
Blitzboks tries: Donavan Don, Shilton van Wyk, Ronald Brown
Conversions: Tristan Leyds, Ronald Brown
New Zealand tries: Tone Ng Shiu, Scott Gregory
Conversions: Sofai Notoa-Tipo, Riley Williams
Blitzboks 41 (22) – Great Britain 7 (0)
By late afternoon the Blitzboks were in free-flowing carnival mode, swarming GB with seven tries. Donavan Don bagged a brace, Nabo Sokoyi celebrated a debut try, and the hosts ran Britain ragged.
Blitzboks tries: Donavan Don (2), Ricardo Duarttee, Impi Visser, David Brits, Nabo Sokoyi, Christie Grobbelaar
Conversions: Duarttee (2), Selvyn Davids
Great Britain try: Roan Frostwick
Conversion: Frostwick
Argentina will face Fiji in the other semi-final at 12:44, while Dubai champions New Zealand who suffered two pool losses in Cape Town have been relegated to the fifth-place playoffs.
