Sports
Blitzboks Strike Gold In Perth After Thriller Against Fiji
South Africans woke up on Sunday to the kind of news that instantly lifts the national mood. The Blitzboks delivered a powerful reminder of their pedigree by beating Fiji national rugby sevens team 21-19 to claim the Perth SVNS crown at HBF Park. It is their first title on Australian soil since 2017 and a moment that felt overdue for fans who have been yearning for a big South African Sevens win abroad.
For a team that has been rebuilding confidence, this was the kind of hard fought victory that sends a message.
A Final That Had South Africans Holding Their Breath
The final played out like a rugby thriller. The Blitzboks controlled the early tempo and held a 14 12 lead at halftime. Fiji, fresh from winning in Singapore the previous weekend, clawed their way back and took a narrow lead with four minutes left.
It felt like a familiar script because Fiji had already beaten South Africa twice earlier in the tournament. But this time the Blitzboks flipped the story.
Ryan Oosthuizen bulldozed through four defenders to score his second try of the match. Ricardo Duarttee stepped up calmly to convert from wide out and restore a two point lead. Once ahead, the Blitzboks managed the closing minutes with impressive composure, pinning Fiji in their own half until the final whistle sounded.
How the Blitzboks Unlocked the Win
Oosthuizen, who walked away as Player of the Final, set the tone from the start. Strong defensive pressure forced Fiji into a loose pass, which Dillyn Leyds snapped up before sending Oosthuizen charging over the line.
Sebastiaan Jobb made sure the Blitzboks cashed in again with another try created from turnover play. With Duarttee flawless off the tee, the team surged ahead 14 0 before Fiji answered with three tries of their own.
Despite the shift in momentum, South Africa did not panic. They tightened their defence, kept the ball when it mattered and showed a maturity that has sometimes been missing in recent seasons.
The Semifinal That Sparked Momentum
Earlier in the day, the Blitzboks took down hosts Australia 28 12 to reach the final. Shilton van Wyk opened with a clever step and burst, while Jobb punished Aussie mistakes with two long range tries.
Australia threatened through Ben Dowling and Henry Hutchison, but a yellow card opened the door for Duarttee to finish the game off with another well taken try. The semifinal performance showed the first signs that the South Africans were building towards something big.
Why This Win Matters For South Africa
Sevens rugby has always carried a unique energy in South Africa. It is fast, dramatic and full of personality, and when the Blitzboks rise to the occasion, the whole country feels it.
This Perth win is more than a trophy moment. It signals a shift towards consistency and belief at a time when the team needed to remind themselves and their supporters of their ability to compete with the best. Beating Fiji in a final on foreign soil is no small feat.
For fans back home, this victory offers hope as the series continues and gives the Blitzboks the momentum they have been chasing.
View this post on Instagram
Read more football news and updates on: SA Rugby Mag and africapicks
{Source: SABC Sport}
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
