South Africa’s men won the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time by dismantling defending champions Argentina on Sunday, cruising to a 35-7 victory at a packed Kai Tak Sports Park after leading 14-7 at half-time.
The Hong Kong event is the opening leg of the SVNS World Championship, which also includes tournaments in Valladolid and Bordeaux.
South Africa made the perfect start when Tristan Leyds chased and collected his kick from deep to go in under the posts. But Argentina hit back with a score by Santino Zangara, converted by Santiago Vera Feld to draw the scores level.
Leyds then produced a searing break through the heart of the opposition defence to send Selvyn Davids away for a brilliant score. Leyds again converted for a 14-7 lead.
South Africa produced a brilliant defensive effort to keep Argentina away from their tryline in the closing moments of the half.
Their defence also scrambled to keep out Argentina at the start of the second half, before Sebastiaan Jobb capitalised on a turnover to streak away. He was caught short but Ryan Oosthuizen was on hand to score. Ronald Brown converted for a 21-7 lead.
Shilton van Wyk then raced onto another Leyds kick to score under the posts before Davids completed a convincing victory.
South Africa had produced a superb display to defeat New Zealand in their semi-final on Sunday. South Africa triumphed 26-14, having led 14-0 at half-time.
Only two late converted scores gave New Zealand some respectability after South Africa had surged into a 26-0 lead. Argentina edged Spain in the semi-final. South Africa had trounced Argentina 38-0 in Pool A competition on Saturday and went into the final as heavy favourites.
In an epic and physically exhausting opening, the South African defence held firm in the face of relentless New Zealand attacks. With less than two minutes remaining in the first spell, SA broke from deep and Tristan Leyds ran in to score from halfway and kicked the conversion.
From the restart, New Zealand were reduced to six players when Roderick Solo was yellow carded for a late challenge on Selwyn Davids as he kicked through. SA made the extra man count as they swung the ball from side to side before Sebastiaan Jobb crossed for a crucial score after the hooter. Davids landed the conversion.
South Africa kept their foot on the accelerator after the break, with Shilton van Wyk and Ryan Oosthuizen dotting down for 26-0 before Akuila Rokolisoa and Michael Manson scored late consolation tries for New Zealand.
