England overturned a 14-point deficit to beat the Blitzboks 21-14 in the bronze-medal match at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
Judging by this lacklustre performance, particularly in the second half, the Blitzboks were still reeling from their semi-final defeat to Fiji. Bronze wasn’t the medal they wanted coming into the day and it showed against England.
Unlike the tension-filled semi-final, it was noticeable that South Africa played more freely against the English and that was their undoing.
Branco du Preez opened the scoring after a brilliant pick-up off the ground. Ruhan Nel was in next following a barnstorming run in midfield that drew cheers from the crowd.
Up 14-0 at the break, you’d expect the Blitzboks to drive home such an advantage in the second half. But they capitulated under pressure.
A brace from Phil Burgess after the restart got England level before Tom Mitchell cantered down the blindside to score the winning try.
