Quewin Nortje and Ronald Brown every scored a strive because the Blitzboks opened the fourth event of the 2024-25 SVNS Series with a 12-10 victory in opposition to New Zealand.
South Africa’s persistence on defence within the opening two minutes paid off handsomely as they managed to stave off New Zealand’s attacking advances.
And the second they bought their arms on the ball and retained possession for a sustained interval, the Blitzboks drew first blood when Nortje scored within the nook after a would-be tackler tripped over his personal toes to permit him free run-in to the tryline.
New Zealand would finally rating when Tone Ng Shiu, however Brown went over and Selvyn Davids transformed to present the Blitzboks a 12-5 lead on the stroke of half-time.
The Blitzboks tireless workrate was on full show once more within the second half once they put in one other gut-busting defensive masterclass to maintain New Zealand at bay. The solely time the stress took its toll was when the Kiwis launched a scathing counter assault from turnover possession, which caught the South Africans napping. But as a result of the conversion try was off beam, the Blitzboks stayed in entrance they usually efficiently closed out the ultimate seconds of this feisty battle to clinch the win.
The two-point victory briefly elevated South Africa to first place within the pool, forward of Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.
The Blitzboks will play their second sport at 03h29 on Saturday morning in opposition to Ireland earlier than wrapping up their Pool B schedule at 21h36 on Saturday evening with a showdown in opposition to Australia.
Blitzboks squad — Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser (co-captain), Ricardo Duarttee, Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids (co-captain, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donavan Don, Sebastiaan Jobb, David Brits, Zander Reynders, Tristan Leyds.
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