The Blitzboks have bulldozed their way into the cup final at the SVNS World Championship in Valladolid, turning the tables on a dogged Argentine squad with a 19-7 victory. After trailing at the break, the South African team punched their ticket to a showdown against Australia, who edged out Fiji 21-14 in a nail-biter. The final clash is set for 4:26pm SA time on Sunday.
South Africa's campaign kicked off with Sebastiaan Jobb making a dramatic stretch to score in the right corner, initially putting the Blitzboks in front. However, Argentina wasn’t having it. Backed by a roaring crowd at Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Santiago Vera Feld quickly responded with a try and conversion, flipping the script to 7-5 in favor of the South Americans by halftime.
The tension escalated when Blitzboks' Selvyn Davids tore through from his own half, nearly adding to the scoreline but for a desperate, last-second Argentine tackle. The second half saw Quewin Nortje also breaking free, only to be dragged down just shy of glory. But persistence paid off for South Africa. Capitalizing on a stolen lineout, Ricardo Duarttee weaved through the defense for a stunning solo try. His successful conversion shot the Blitzboks into a 12-7 lead with just minutes on the clock.
"We kept our composure and seized the opportunities. That's what defines this team," Davids reflected after the match.
With the clock winding down, Ryan Oosthuizen put the final nail in the coffin, crossing the line for a converted try that secured the Blitzboks' spot in the final and edged them closer to a potential double title season—adding the World Championship to their regular-season series crown.
The stage is set for an electrifying final where the Blitzboks aim to prove their mettle against an equally determined Australian squad. With momentum on their side, the South African team looks poised to cap off an exceptional season with the ultimate prize.
Teams in Final: South Africa (Blitzboks), Australia