The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s team has, for the first time qualified for the finals of the Cape Town 7s where they will also meet first time cup finalists, USA.
.@fijirugby first time into the #CapeTown7s Cup Final. They beat the #Blitzbokke 12-17 pic.twitter.com/4Q7gBSfuCn
— 7s in South Africa (@BlitzBokke) December 9, 2018
Fiji defeated South Africa in their semifinals match 17-12.
The #BlitzBokke slipped on the proverbial banana peel... losing to #Fiji in the #CapeTown7s Cup SF. pic.twitter.com/i1FfWgckCR
— 7s in South Africa (@BlitzBokke) December 9, 2018
Fiji started off slow in the first 3 minutes of the game giving South Africa the opportunity to score an unconverted try in the first minute.
Fiji’s first try in the match came from Vilimoni Botitu in the fourth minute breaking past the South African defence while Waisea Nacuqu scored a converted try in the 5th minute to give Fiji a 12-5 lead.
It's a physical semi-final as South Africa face Fiji.
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 9, 2018
Follow the #CapeTown7s LIVE: https://t.co/Du3uDDpRrw pic.twitter.com/Cg98y7l01u
Fiji went into halftime with a lead of 12-5 over South Africa.
Coming into the second half South Africa’s Rosko Specman scored in the third minute from a pass from Justine Geduld to level the scores at 12-12.
Vatemo Ravouvou was yellow carded with just a minute and a half left on the clock putting Fiji at a disadvantage.
With improved defence from the remaining six, Alosio Naduva was able to score Fiji’s winning try with just 2 seconds left on the clock.
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FT: Fiji beat hosts South Africa 17-12 with a last ditch try from Naduva
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 9, 2018
Fiji face either @AllBlacks7s or @USARugby in the final #CapeTown7s pic.twitter.com/IjjAsdCCiZ
Meanwhile USA thrashed New Zealand 31-12 in their semifinal.
This will be the first time for USA to feature in consecutive cup finals and also to feature in the Cape Town 7s final.
In other matches England has finished in 5th place at the Cape Town 7's after defeating Spain 14-7 while New Zealand will face South Africa in the bronze final at 6.18 this morning
Fiji will face USA in the final of the Cape Town 7s at 6.44am.
🎥 Reaction: Kalione Nasoko speaks after @fijirugby’s win over South Africa in the cup semi-final #CapeTown7s pic.twitter.com/hpIbqt42HI
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 9, 2018
🎥 Reaction: ‘that game went great’. @USARugby’s @Carlin_Isles after making a second consecutive cup final for the first time in history #CapeTown7s pic.twitter.com/4r3iWInvZc
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 9, 2018
