Australia has progressed through to the Cup semi-finals on Day Two of the HSBC Singapore Sevens with a dramatic 19-17 victory over South Africa.
Down by 10 points with just a minute remaining in the game, Tom Lucas put his knee to the test and ran half the length of the field to get the Aussies within striking distance of a win.
With just 30 seconds left on the clock, Australia gained possession and Lachie Anderson made the break and ran to the line ensuring he got to the posts to enable a successful conversion – and a win.
WHAT A FINISH! Lachie Anderson scores a dramatic winner as Australia beat South Africa to seal a semi-final spot at the #Singapore7s! pic.twitter.com/AJA7CfVH32
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 16, 2017
The game began with two early tries to South Africa through Siviwe Soyizwapi and Cecil Afrika.
Neither try was successfully converted - a fact they would later come to regret.
Australia suffered early with errors underlining the intensity of the play and to some extent, the inexperience of the players at the finals level.
Simon Kennewell got Australia on the scoreboard just before half-time. The conversion by Tom Lucas meant it was just a three point margin, 10-7, at the break.
An early second half try by Philip Snyman came through persistence in attack with Australia getting very little possession to that point.
The margin was ten and it was at that point the young Aussies refused to give up as Lucas ran half the field to score the try that made victory a possibility.
Australia will now play the USA in the Cup semi-final while South Africa finds itself in unfamiliar territory – out of the final four contenders for the first time all series.
Afterwards, skipper Tom Lucas lauded his teammates for their efforts under fire on Day Two.
"The whole squad is pretty pumped by the effort that the boys put in there. We're banged up and bruised at the moment," Lucas said in reference to losing former skipper Ed Jenkins to a shoulder injury and the ageless James Stannard with broken nose.
"It was a great performance out there. We fought right to the end and just didn't give up."
The Aussies will take on the USA in their semi-final, while Canada knocked out New Zealand in their quarter final and will meet England who has defeated Kenya with a penalty goal after the final siren to steal a one point victory.
RESULT
Australia 19
Tries: Kennewell, Lucas, Anderson
Cons: Lucas, Porch
South Africa 17
Tries: Soyizwapi, Afrika, Snyman
Cons: Afrika
The Aussies will face the USA in the first semi-final at 7.10pm AEST
Finals LIVE on FOX SPORTS Ch506 from 4.25pm-7.55pm & 8.35pm-11.00pm AEST
