Monday, 12th February 2007 at 6:05 pm

Springbok success… sort of

Alright, so they’re not quite the Boks, and they didn’t win the most glamorous title on offer. But South Africa emerged from the San Diego Sevens with a trophy of sorts, having recovered from elimination from the tournament proper to beat Scotland in the Plate final, and finish with some consolatory silverware.

Fiji - starring the ageless Serevi - won the main prize, bouncing back after disappointment in the previous round in Wellington, New Zealand, and there was further joy for South Africa (and the hosts) in the Shield final. Having lost all five matches, the USA made it through to the Shield decider, and went on to defeat Portugal 26-5.

The South African connection? Former UCT fullback Dallen ‘Paki’ Stanford, perhaps most famous for executing a flying full length tackle from off the bar at the old Green Man in Cape Town, on an unsuspecting Joe van Neikerk. Shield for Stanford, now representing America, and Plate for South Africa - modest success in both cases, perhaps, but trophies in San Diego nonetheless.