Blitzboks to face Australia in pool showdown

The Springbok Sevens side made it two from two and will now face Australia in a showdown for pool honours in the HSBC World Championship in Valladolid, Spain, on Saturday.

The Blitzboks swept past a tough, physical Kenyan side to win 14-0, but it was a game that was never easy, nor comfortable, as the Shujaa continue to bid for permanent status in the World Series next season.

There was no letting up on the big hits as the Kenyans flew into the Blitzboks, but in the end, two pieces of mastery tipped the scoreline in favour of the current World Series champions.

The first was deep in the first half, with Kenya on attack. Shilton van Wyk read a pass exceptionally well to intercept and run 50 metres for the opening try.

Then, in a crucial attack in the second half, Denis Abukuse was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on - although replays suggested it was in the tackle on Tristan Lleyds rather than deliberate - and the Shujaa were one man down.

With that result, the Blitzboks chose a scrum, kept the initial attack close, and then Selvyn Davids executed a perfect kick pass for Sebastian Jobb to collect on the wing and run it in at the corner.

Kenya probably deserved more than a blank scoresheet, but they will now have to beat Great Britain on Saturday if they are to have any chance of making the quarterfinals.

AUSSIES UP NEXT

With the top eight qualifying for next season's World Series, every result is crucial.

The Blitzboks will move on to face the Wallaby Sevens side, who were prepared for this tournament by Wallaby 15s coach Joe Schmidt, in their final pool game at 13h23 on Saturday.

Australia beat Kenya in extra time on a golden try in their first game, and then accounted for Great Britain 26-19 in their second match. The Blitzboks also needed a golden try to beat Great Britain in their first game, 17-12.

* In the Women's tournament, the Springbok Women's sevens suffered their second straight loss, losing 26-12 to the USA. They lost their first match to Australia by the same margin.