Blitzboks go top of their pool in Spain with back-to-back wins on day one

The Blitzboks defeated Great Britain 17-12 in extra time before grinding out a 14-0 win over Kenya to move to the top of their pool.

Their final pool position and playoff ranking will be determined by Saturday's clash against Australia, who also won both of their opening matches after hard-fought victories over the same opponents.

The Blitzboks were made to work hard for their opening 17-12 victory over Great Britain after an error-filled first half left them under pressure for long periods and gave Great Britain a 5-0 lead.

A moment of brilliance from Shilton van Wyk just before halftime brought the Blitzboks level at 5-5, and the South Africans looked in control when Sebastiaan Jobb finished off a well-weighted grubber from Dewald Human early in the second half. Human added the conversion to give the Blitzboks a seven-point advantage.

Great Britain struck back in dramatic fashion with seconds remaining, capitalising on a favourable bounce from a kick ahead to force extra time. South Africa responded immediately from the restart, winning a penalty before Tristan Leyds rounded off a slick backline move to score the decisive try.

The Blitzboks produced a more controlled display in their second match against Kenya, taking an early lead when Van Wyk intercepted a rushed pass to score under the posts for a 7-0 lead after Leyds converted.

Kenya threatened at times but struggled to break through the organised South African defence, while handling errors prevented them from making the most of promising attacking positions. The Blitzboks remained patient and composed despite a physical challenge from their African rivals.

South Africa sealed the result in the second half after Kenya were reduced to six players following a deliberate knockdown. From the resulting scrum, Dewald Human produced a pinpoint cross-kick for Jobb to score in the corner, while the Blitzboks' defence held firm late on to complete a 14-0 victory.

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