New Zealand won 24-17 against the Blitzboks, securing their place in the semi-final in the HSBC Dubai SVNS. Missing crucial tackles was the downfall of the Blitzboks. The Blitzboks will face France in a 5th-place play-off at 15:06 (SA Time).
Tristan Leyds did the hard work cutting the defence of New Zealand in two, offloading to Shilton van Wyk to Quewin Nortje to stroll over for the Blitzboks' opening try. Leyds converted.
With a minute to go New Zealand scored the equaliser when Ngarohi McGarvey-Black sniped to score the equaliser. The sides going into the second half level on 07-07.
Again Leyds sniped, offloading to Quewin Nortje who knows his way to the tryline and scored a forty-meter try to lead 12-07 after two minutes of play.
New Zealand struck back almost immediately when Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored his second try of the match thanks to some halfhearted defence by the Blitzboks. Ngarohi McGarvey-Black converted to take the lead 14-12 with three minutes to play.
Donovan Don's try was the Blitzboks' answer, however, New Zealand scored two tries in the final two minutes of play to win 24-17.
Scorers:
Blitzboks: Tries: Quewin Nortje (2), Donovan Don. Conversion: Tristan Leyds.
New Zealand: Tries: Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (2), Sofai Maka (2). Conversions: Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (2).
Teams
Blitzboks: Quewin Nortje, Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, Zain Davids, Ricardo Duarttee, Christie Grobbelaar, Impi Visser. Replacements: Donavan Don, Dewald Human, Shaun Williams, Siviwe Soyizwapi, David Brits.
New Zealand: Codi Vai, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Sione Molia, Oli Mathis, Lewis Ormond, Andrew Knewstubb, Joe Webber. Replacements: Joey Taumateine, Sofai Maka, Tone NG Shiu, Dylan Collier, Brady Rush.