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Blitzboks and Australia win gold at Dubai SVNS


Australia and South Africa celebrate winning their Cup finals at the 2023/24 Dubai SVNS. Picture: World Rugby
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The Blitzboks and Australia Women have won the Dubai SVNS, kicking off the new HSBC SVNS circuit in style in the Middle East.

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In the men’s final, South Africa scored twice in quick succession to take an early lead that was never assailed by fellow finalists Argentina. Impi Visser scored first, wriggling over on the three-minute mark before Shilton Van Wyk made it two after cutting through the middle of Argentinian’s defence from close range.

The South Americans fought back bravely with a well-taken try from Matias Osadczuk, which was converted by Santiago Mare, but despite their best efforts, they ran out 12-7 losers.

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Impi Visser reaction after Dubai Day One

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Impi Visser reaction after Dubai Day One

“It is very special. It’s a great turnaround for the guys because last season we weren’t on par, there were a lot of youngsters and you could see the youngsters have improved,” Rosko Specman told RugbyPass.

“The guys are sticking to the system now and they work for each other, as you saw today, when the guys break the line the guys are chasing. They’re working for one and not as individuals.

“It’s something happening now in the team.

“As you saw this year, the Springboks won the World Cup back-to-back and that is the drive that we have now. We also want to be number one in the world again.”

In the women’s final an inform Aussie side proved deserved winners in a closely fought 26-19 victory over the Black Ferns 7s.

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A try from Bienne Terita, a brace from Teagan Levi and one from the tournament’s leading try-scorer Maddison Levi proved decisive for the girls in green and gold. A hattrick from New Zealand’s Jorja Miller wasn’t enough for the Black Ferns in what was a ferocious competitive final.

“I’m pretty excited especially about getting Player of the Final. I think it shows that hard work really does pay off and not just me but the whole team, we’ve worked really hard this whole preseason,” Teagan Levi told RugbyPass.

“To come out here and get the win is awesome and such a surreal feeling.

“Individually it’s really exciting to see what this year holds for me. I think I’ve worked really hard in preseason but once again I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my coaching staff and the team around me.

“We have some of the best talented athletes in the world in our team and some of the most amazing staff and I think they’ve really put us to the test this preseason.”

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Tickets are on sale now for the next SVNS Series event in Cape Town on December 9-10. Can the Blitzboks go back-to-back in front of their home supporters next weekend?

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NoLongerARuck 1 hour ago
‘South Africa has produced enough URC finalists. This season it needs a champion’

To be perfectly honest it will be difficuly. The Sharks have almost no hope, their team and squad seems weaker each year and they look like they are lacking X-factor in a number of areas and their coach is way too inexperienced. I wonder if they can even crack the top 8. The Lions dont have the depth or resources but they have cohesion and some really intriguing combos, making the top 8 again should be their target to build on the success of last season. The Stormers have made some big signings but those Boks may only be available for half the season and therin lies the problem for them. They have plenty of quality in the squad but they lose so much to the Boks and have serious player availability problems. The Bulls have signed some reliable performers but thats been to replace some world class performers who have left. Their squad looks weaker this year but they have some depth and experience and are the most likely to finish in the top 2 with a running game thats continuously evolving. Overall I dont see any of the franchises finishing 1st on the log which is an absolute must considering the dip in performances when they play away. Having said that Leinster (ageing squad, less depth), Glasgow (several star players left) and Munster (depth issues in several positions) all look weaker this year compared to last. So maybe that evens itself out as far as the SA franchises are concerned but only time will tell.

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