Cape Town witnessed two stunning storylines as the HSBC SVNS Series returned to South Africa. The Blitzboks thrilled a packed home crowd with a dramatic comeback to become the first team ever to win back-to-back titles in Cape Town, while Australia’s women claimed redemption with a powerful victory over New Zealand.
After losing to the Black Ferns in Dubai, Australia arrived in Cape Town determined to make a statement. They delivered the perfect response. Led brilliantly by Isabella Nasser, the gold-medal match belonged to the Aussies from the opening whistle, finishing with a flawless, undefeated run. As the sun dipped behind the stadium, Australia celebrated revenge and a trophy. France secured the final podium spot after a thrilling comeback win over USA, while Japan edged Canada yet again, their third win in two tournaments.
Nasser summed up the emotion: “We hurt last week when we lost against the Kiwis. But we put it all out there today and I’m so proud of every single one of the girls.”
In the men’s final, South Africa ignited Cape Town. Trailing Argentina early in the second half, the Blitzboks struck twice in the final minutes, including a late winner from Christie Grobbelaar, sending the crowd into chaos. Captain Impi Visser praised the team’s resilience, saying: “We never give up… once we get our hands on the ball, this team can be dangerous.”
Fiji took bronze by beating France, while Dubai champions New Zealand finished fifth.
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| THE MATCH |
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