The Blitzboks easily beat Ireland in their first pool match at the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town on Saturday morning. They were victorious with 36-7 over the men from the Emerald Isle, scoring six tries in total.

David Britz opened the scoring for the hosts in the 3rd minute with the try converted by Ricardo Duarttee. Speedster Quewin Nortje scored an unconverted try only a minute later with Impi Visser crossing the whitewash with two minutes to go in the first half. Nortje scored his second try just before half-time, with Duarttee making no mistakes.

The Blitzboks thump Ireland in their Cape Town SVNS opener! ???? ??#HSBCSVNSCPT pic.twitter.com/yDiWa7mOYy

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) December 7, 2024

The Blitzboks scored first in the second half, with Visser going over for his second try. Josh Costello salvaged some pride for Ireland with a converted try. But the Blitzboks had the final say with Mfundo Ndhlovu scoring in extra time.

This edition of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town sees the introduction of a new competition format featuring four pools or three teams with the pool winners proceeding directly to the semi-finals. Teams finishing second in their pool will compete in the fifth to eighth place play offs and teams finishing third in their pools playoff for ninth to twelfth positions.

The Blitzboks will face Argentina in their other match at 18:40 on Saturday.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg