Rugby 7s: the Blues crack in the final of the 2nd stage of the world circuit against South Africa (26-14)

Thank you everyone for following the Blues Rugby sevens final with us. Good evening.

Logically, thanks to this good result, the Blues moved up in the general classification. After two stages, they are on the third step of the podium with 30 points, two points behind the Spaniards and six points below the Fijians.

After fifth place during the first stage in Dubai, the Blues are progressing in South Africa. In Cape Town, the French reached the final but fell to the twirling Boks (26-14). This result is nevertheless promising for the rest of the adventures of the reigning Olympic champions.

Defeat in the final for the French (26-14).

On a pass after contact, Riva makes a mistake. The ball is returned to the South Africans. It will be about having an aggressive defense.

This ends with a yellow card for the Boks. The Blues have a shooting window.

At home, the Boks are sovereign. It's Britts' turn to break through the tricolor line on a serve from Van Wyk.

He seized it on the left wing and just had to finish despite the French return.

Riva scratches the ball and releases towards Pouzelgues who leads the offensive. At the end of a long sequence, Varian Pasquet was found on the left wing. He can flatten quietly. Riva takes care of putting everyone back on an equal footing. It's the break.

While the transformation has been assured, the South Africans go on the attack again. Zain Davids uses all his might to go for the test.

What a breakthrough from Donovan Don, who arrived launched in the center of the field and was served perfectly.

It starts very strong. Riva serves Pouzelgues behind his back who flattens in the right corner.

… for 2×7 minutes of rugby 7s.

First the Marseillaise, before that of the South Africans, at home today in Cape Town.

In the semi-final, the Blues beat Fiji, winners of the first stage in Dubai (19-17).

Overall, the French are fifth before this meeting, one place ahead of the South Africans, their opponents for the evening.

The Blues handed out two corrections during their pair of group matches played yesterday. They first defeated the United States (50-12) before achieving a much more resounding feat. The Tricolores crushed New Zealand (47-15). They had never won by such a margin over the All-Blacks.

Before the men's final, the Blues secured bronze in Cape Town. They beat Australia in the match for 3rd place (17-14), after losing against New Zealand (43-0), like a week earlier, in Dubai (28-12).

Here is the VII lined up by Benoît Baby: Victor Hannoun, Liam Delamara, Varian Pasquet, Antoine Zeghdar, Paulin Riva, Stephen Parez Edo Martin, Célian Pouzelgues

The last meeting between the French and South Africans is fresh in the minds of the players. The Blues dominated the Springboks in the match for 5th place last week (17-15), during the first stage of the HSBC Seven Series, in Dubai.

Kickoff for the final is scheduled for 6:11 p.m. Both teams played their respective semi-finals earlier today.

Welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the final of the second stage of the world rugby sevens circuit. The Blues, Olympic champions in Paris, challenge South Africa in Cape Town.