They couldn’t resist South Africa’s tremendous clean performance in the end. The Pumas 7s lost 21-19 in the sevens final in Cape Town and finished second. A remarkable and necessary recovery after finishing last at the previous appointment in Dubai. Meanwhile, the locals celebrated their second consecutive title at home.
Argentina started well, with a powerful effort from Luciano González Rizzoni in the first few minutes. But then Donavan Don ended up in the goal due to a passing error and equalized. Two and a half minutes before the end of the first half the score was tied 7:7.
The reaction was not long in coming, with a spectacular second try for Argentina by Rayo Moneta after a great attack by Luciano González Rizzoni (14-7). And before the end of the first half, South Africa recovered a ball but committed a rebound, a saving grace for Santiago Gómez Cora’s side, who maintained their lead before the break.
The second third started optimally, with a very long trajectory and pure speed from Moneta out of the Argentine field. Nobody could catch him in this lightning-quick diagonal from right to left that marked Argentina’s third attempt to take a 19-7 lead. But South Africa responded with a try from debutant Sonwabo Sokoyi after an incomplete ball.
Towards the end, Argentina could not resist the South African advance and the local team finished the game with a try from Christie Grobbelaar and the conversion from Ricardo Duarttee, becoming stronger against their team and ultimately winning 21-19.
About The Author
