Blitzboks cruise into Sydney Sevens semis after win over Ireland

The Blitzboks are into the semi-finals of the Sydney Sevens after a 26-12 win over Ireland in their quarter-final clash.  

South Africa got off to the best possible start when they scored 20 seconds from the kick-off as Christie Grobbelaar galloped over after Ireland missed a crucial tackle. 

Ricardo Duarttee added the conversion as South Africa went into a 7-0 lead.  

Grobbelaar was in for his second in the 4th minute after more poor Irish defence saw him in space on the left-hand side to give the Blizboks a 12-0 lead following a failed conversion.  

Ireland needed to hit back quickly, and they were next to score after some impressive handling across the field saw Aaron O'Sullivan with a converted try that made the score 12-7.  

A brilliant cross-field kick from Shaun Williams picked out Shilton van Wyk who scored in the right-hand corner to extend the Blitzboks' lead. 

Duarttee then nailed a difficult conversion as South Africa took a 19-7 lead into half-time.  

Ireland forced their way back into the encounter by scoring first in the second half as they worked the ball in space out to the right for Andrew Smith to score in the corner. 

Ireland missed the conversion, but at 19-12, they were just a single score away from tieing up the game with four minutes left.  

Into the #Sydney7s semi-finals go the #Blitzboks after an impressive performance against Ireland - how it happened: https://t.co/sJpHqujjCq ?#BlitzIgnite pic.twitter.com/U9bPm3YjTD

Jaden Baron pushed South Africa's lead out to 26-12 when he scored a superb individual try, kicking ahead on a few occasions to collect over the line and dot down with Duarttee adding the extras to seal the match. 

The Blitzboks will play the winner of the other quarter-final clash between