Blitzboks produce sevens masterclass to crush Fiji and bag Commonwealth Games gold

South Africa produced a rugby sevens masterclass on Sunday night when they crushed Fiji 31-7 in the Commonwealth Games final at Coventry Stadium.

It was a clinical performance by coach Neil Powell's charges, who left their best performance of the weekend for when it mattered most.

They ran in five tries against a shell-shocked Fijian outfit who were gunning for their first-ever Commonwealth Games gold. 

It was South Africa's second Commonwealth Games gold medal, having also done so in Glasgow in 2014.

Speedster Muller du Plessis scored the game's first try in the fourth minute when he collected a clever kick-pass from the skilful Selvyn Davids.

Shaun Williams converted to give the Blitzboks a 7-0 lead.

The powerful JC Pretorius went over in the corner a couple of minutes later, rounding off a great team try (12-0).

South Africa kept probing and were rewarded on the stroke of half-time when Williams scored in the corner. He rounded off after a brilliant turnover won by Pretorius, whose clever offload put the speedster away.

South Africa led 17-0 at half-time.

?? Wow! Just wow! What a performance by the Blitzboks to take gold with a superb victory over Fiji in the Commonwealth Games final! Well done to all the teams in Birmingham, what a wonderful tournament! A second sevens gold for @TeamSA2024! pic.twitter.com/aYY59moG77

Du Plessis extended South Africa's lead shortly after the break when he showed great pace on the left wing.

Williams' conversion put the Blitzboks 24-0 ahead with five minutes remaining.

Waisea Nacuqu gave Fiji hope with a powerful run to score under the posts. He quickly converted to make the score 24-7 with three minutes remaining.

However, there was not enough time left and the Blitzboks made sure they finished