'Tricky Ricky' announces himself as Blitzboks reach Dubai semis with stirring comeback

The Blitzboks' quest for a record-extending 10th Dubai Sevens title remains firmly on course after Ricardo 'Tricky Ricky' Duarttee inspired a magnificent comeback in a 24-19 quartefinal victory over Samoa on Saturday morning.

They'll face archenemies New Zealand in the last four.

24-year-old Duarttee, a journeyman junior player who sold his car at the start of the year to pay for his enrolment at Stellenbosch Academy of Sport Sevens Academy to revive his career, was simply sublime as playmaker and sweeper in scoring a brace of tries and generally causing havoc.

Dubbed his new nickname by the television commentators Sean Maloney and Karl Te Nana during the match, Duarttee was asked whether it will stick: "That's mine. I'll definitely take it."  

South Africa had looked in a slump after some suspect marking in midfield led to opening scores for Vaa Apelu Maliko and Uaina Sione that established a 12-0 buffer for the islanders.

Step up Duarttee.

"I believe we will lift this cup" ??Ricardo Duarttee knows @Blitzboks are just two matches from #Dubai7s glory after victory against Samoa#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/Xu4IRKGp7P

After Samoa conceded a free kick at the next kick-off, the stocky but broad-shouldered exponent boldly took a quick tap and spectacularly evaded five defenders as part of a 60m solo effort that hauled the Blitzboks right back into contention.

His twinkle toes then proved instrumental again moments later in creating the necessary space for Muller du Plessis' try.

Skipper Shakes Soyizwapi should've capped off the South Africans' late dominance of the first half with another score, but he was robbed of possession in the process of scoring by a cheeky yet superb piece of dislodging by Maliko.

The psychological blow of that