Blitzboks boost SVNS 1 title hopes with win over All Blacks Sevens

Sebastiaan Jobb scored twice as South Africa ran away with a convincing 22-7 win over New Zealand at HSBC SVNS New York, strengthening the team’s chances of taking out the overall SVNS 1 title at Sports Illustrated Stadium this weekend.

South Africa have won the last two events on the SVNS Series, having been crowned tournament winners at Perth’s BC Park last month and at Vancouver’s BC Place six days ago. They secured the trophy at their home event at SVNS Cape Town in December as well.

It’s a two-team race for the SVNS 1 title in the men’s competition, with Fiji and South Africa level on the standings with 86 points. Fiji have a slightly better points differential (+2) across the season, which saw them sit in first place ahead of the final regular season leg of 2025/26.

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Fiji played in the first-ever SVNS match in New York, but fell to reigning League Winners Argentina 31-12 in a one-sided Pool B contest. Marcos Moneta and Santino Zangara both crossed for doubles, while Juan Patricio Batac also got on the scoresheet for the victors.

With only the top two teams progressing out of each pool this season, every match matters in a bid to qualify for the final four. Fiji will take on Great Britain and Spain later on day one, needing to finish above South Africa at the event to secure the SVNS 1 crown.

Following Spain’s 24-14 win over Great Britain and Australia’s shutout 24-0 triumph over Olympic gold medallists France, it was time for the Blitzboks to face the All Blacks Sevens. Impi Visser was first to run out, marking the captain’s 50^th SVNS Series tournament.

The Blitzboks opened the scoring in the second minute through playmaker Selvyn Davids, who crossed for career try number 99. Davids got two touches on the ball in a set-piece play off a scrum, with plenty of pace to burn in the sprint for the corner.

New Zealand were parked inside their own half before Ryan Oosthuizen won a pilfer penalty for South Africa with one minute remaining in the half. The Blitzboks set up for a set-piece play, which led to points through Jobb.

Jobb got the ball near the left sideline and beat a tackle attempt during an impressive run en route to the try line. Dewald Human added the extras from right in front, as the SVNS Series powerhouse took a 12-0 lead into the one-minute half-time huddle

Ill-discipline was a big talking point in the second half, with Rob Rush and Akuila Rokolisoa both shown yellow cards. Meanwhile, Jobb completed a double with an effort in the 11^th minute, before Grant de Jager dove over for his first try on the SVNS Series.

Riley Williams received New Zealand’s third yellow card during the second half, but the team still had the final point-scoring say of the contest. Brady Rush raced away for a consolation try in the last play of the contest, but the battle for bragging rights was far from over.

South Africa and New Zealand are both in Pool A, along with an in-form Australia outfit and France. As for SVNS Series leaders Fiji, they headline Pool B along with Argentina, Great Britain, and a Spanish side that made the Men’s Cup Final in Vancouver last weekend.