South Africa lift London crown - but New Zealander take the title
June 5, 2005

South Africa lifted the London Sevens title on Sunday after shocking both New Zealand and England in the knock out stages.

The South Africans produced 35 unanswered points in the semi final against New Zealand, with Juries and Demas inspiring them to a 28-0 half time lead against the Kiwis, with another try shortly after the break taking the match beyond New Zealand reach although the did give it their best shot scoring 26 unanswered points in the closing stages.

The South Africans then went on to stun the defending champions England in the final, winning 21-12 to lift themselves to fourth place on the IRB World Sevens standings.

Jaco Pretorius and Schalk van der Merwe were among the scorers as the Springboks took a 21-7 half-time lead, although England responded in the second period. Ben Gollings scored and referee Nigel Owens then signalled three times that the ball had been held up by frantic South African defence.
That same defence, though, repelled more of the same as Paul Treu's men
stamped their authority on their first final of the season, holding on for
victory.

Despite their semi final defeat New Zealand's earlier 21-12 win over a fighting France had guaranteed enough tournament points from this event to secure their sixth overall IRB Sevens crown in as many years, with the Paris event still to come.

South Africa booked their last-four berth courtesy of a convincing 42-0 win over Australia, Juries and Demas each grabbing a brace. In the other semi-final England had beaten Argentina, earlier conquerors of Fiji, 33-7.

For the Day Two results from London click here

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