Afrika shines for sizzling Springboks - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Afrika shines for sizzling Springboks

27/03/2011 12:19:57 AM Comments (0)

Scoring sensation Cecil Afrika brought the Hong Kong Sevens alight on Saturday with a show of clinical finishing for South Africa to add 37 points to his already world-beating tally.

The 23-year-old playmaker, the leading points and try-scorer in the Sevens World Series, touched down three times and notched 11 conversions as the Springboks ran riot over Hong Kong, winning 45-0, before trouncing Wales 42-12.

But flyhalf Afrika said there was plenty left to do at the world's most prestigious annual rugby sevens event.

"We don't worry about the other teams, we just focus on ourselves and what we want to do and we take every team as they come," said Afrika.

"Being the top try-scorer is not important, what is important is the team effort. Being the top try-scorer all comes down to my teammates."

Joint Sevens World Series leaders New Zealand and England also continued on their winning ways but were both made to work hard on the second day.

New Zealand laboured past Portugal 19-12 before beating France 19-7, while England got a fright from Japan before winning 33-14 and then went on to down USA 37-12.

"You learn from close games," New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said. "That's just what happens at this event -- the unfancied teams lift against the top sides and that's what we've been seeing today.

"We have to go away now and have a think and regroup. If you're not up for it mentally you're going to get beaten. I've seen it happen."

There was a welcome win for Japan late in the day -- their first in the tournament after losses to USA on Friday (24-19) and England.

They had come to Hong Kong hoping to lift spirits back home after the earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11 but have found the going tough.

In other games reigning Hong Kong champions Samoa remained unbeaten thanks to 24-17 and 31-14 wins over Tonga and Scotland, respectively, while the Australians took a little time to find their feet, struggling to see off a determined Canada 26-24 before beating Argentina 21-14.

Fiji too kept in the title race with a 29-14 win over Russia and a 40-0 victory over Kenya late in the day.

Sunday's all-important Cup quarter-final draw has pitted new Zealand against Portugal, South Africa against Fiji, Samoa against Australia and England against Russia.

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