Sternum breaking hit in Dubai 7s that World Rugby don’t want you to see
A massive legal rugby hit.
In a world in which many of those involved in the running of the game want to turn it into a some kind of catch and cuddle comp, it’s hits like these that remind us about how rugby is meant to be played.
Tellingly, the hit that has been going viral over the weekend hasn’t been featured on World Rugby’s social media, despite being both legal and highly entertaining.
Why wouldn’t you feature it? Odd one.
CREDIT: World Rugby
Who said they don’t tackle in rugby 7s #Dubai7s pic.twitter.com/We2LnC04Qo
— O Kristmas Read (@DesignedToFade) December 6, 2019
To keep a New Zealand team scoreless in a rugby match is almost impossible; to prevent the All Black Sevens team from scoring in a final even more so.
Yet, that was exactly what the Blitzboks did on Saturday in the final of the Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens, blanking the current Rugby World Cup Sevens and Commonwealth Games gold medallists in their 15-0 win, a defensive effort which left Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi ‘almost speechless.’
The winger turned 27 on Saturday and received the best birthday present from his team as they delivered a masterclass, handing the captain his very first gold medal in the Dubai Sevens.
“I was saying to my roommate Ruhan (Nel) yesterday morning how great it would be if we won the tournament on my birthday,” said Soyizwapi after the team lifted the trophy at The Sevens Stadium.
“And now we did. Since that final whistle went, I have been almost speechless, taking in the effort the guys put out there.”
Soyizwapi may be shy when it comes to showing his emotions, but he was very clear on why they were crowned champions: “We kept on improving. Every match we got better and better and managed to do things the way we wanted to. We played the way we wanted to play.”
With the SA Rugby Sevens Academy team winning the International Invitational tournament in Dubai, it was understandable that Soyizwapi credited the Springbok Sevens programme as a whole.
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