South Africa clinch Dubai Rugby Sevens title with win over Australia

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter 

South Africa completed a Dubai double in an unbeaten start to the rugby sevens world series after defeating Australia 10-7 in a tense final on Saturday.

The South Africans have won four tournaments in a row — the two in September that constituted the shortened 2021 series, and the two Dubai Sevens opening the 2022 series over the last two weekends, making up for the canceled South Africa Sevens.

They extended their team-record match-winning streak to 24 after being pushed to the brink in the semifinals and final.

JC Pretorius scored the clinching tries in both. In the semi-final against France, at 12-12 with seconds to go, Pretorius took an angled run at the French and slipped out of the tackle of Ethan Dumortier and skipped away to the line. South Africa won 19-12 with the conversion.

The final was even tighter.

Siviwe Soyizwapi went over for South Africa in the first minute, and Corey Toole replied in the fifth for Australia to lead 7-5 at halftime. With two minutes to go, Pretorius took a ruck ball and beat Ben Dowling with a step off his right foot to break through and score.

Australia bag successive Women’s World Series crown: Meanwhile, Skipper Demi Hayes led her Australia squad to yet another gold medal after a pulsating final against Fijiana.

Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea thought she had opened the scoring, running a great line, but the Fiji defence got back and put her off as she knocked the ball over the try line.

Faith Nathan did give them the lead with an unconverted try three minutes before the break.