Blitzboks claim stunning extra-time final victory over Fiji
Los Angeles — Sakoyisa Makata scored in extra time as SA fought back from 19-0 down to defeat Fiji 29-24 and win the Los Angeles leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Makata’s sudden-death winner completed an extraordinary comeback for the Blitzboks, who also trailed 24-12 with just more than a minute to go against the Fijians.
Fiji, chasing back-to-back tournament wins after their victory at the Sydney Sevens in February, looked to be on course for the title after storming into an early lead at the Dignity Health Sports Park. The South Pacific islanders’ Vilimoni Botitu scored the opening try in the first minute and Sevuloni Mocenacagi extended Fiji’s lead before Napolioni Bolaca made it 19-0 with SA looking ragged.
But Stedman Gans pulled a try back for the Blitzboks on the stroke of half-time to make it 19-7 at the break. Selvyn Davids then scored soon after the restart to cut the Fiji lead to 19-12. However, a sweeping length-of-the-field attack from Fiji which ended with Jerry Tuwai dotting down in the corner restored the islanders’ 12-point cushion at 24-12 with just more than a minute remaining.
Read more article on B-Day Live News