Waka, Waka ... this time for Africa

Dubai - South Africa went for dismantled Olympic champions Fiji to clinch the Dubai Sevens title

It was not 'Haka' but the 'Waka, 'Waka that blared on the sound system at The Sevens. And a little later, songstress Tina Turner, the 77-year old R&B, pop, soul, dance and rock and roll queen, rocked the crowd with her 1991 hit 'Simply the best.'
Meanwhile, England defeated Wales 38-10 to win the bronze
Indeed, it really was as South Africa went for broke to dismantle reigning and Olympic champions Fiji to clinch the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens title on a heady Saturday night.
The Blitzboks lived up to their moniker as they put Fiji to shade with a 26-14 scoreline to land the Dubai Sevens, now part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, at the fifth time of asking.
Cecil Afrika scored his 139th Sevens career try, while Seabelo Senatla Sentala got his 11th try of the Dubai weekend as the South Africans played a solid hand on the night. And Branco Du Preez's three conversions were worth their weight in gold after he had also made a try. Chris Dry was the other to score a try. It was the Bliztboks' fifth Dubai Sevens crown after having previously won it in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2014.
Meanwhile, it was a bitter pill to swallow for Fiji, who were outfoxed on the night by South Africa's aggressive play, especially in the first seven-minute period.
The Blitzboks began by putting pedal to the metal as the Afrika, the man with the dreadlocks, put them ahead with a try after which Du Preez, also with nice, flowing dreadlocks, made the conversion.
Then, Du Preez was on fire with four minutes left, with the Fijians succumbing to his searing pace. There were solid breakdowns as well from the South Africans as Fiji were stuck in their own half with two minutes left in the half.
The Blitzboks were hunting them down and Fiji were caught off guard but the Fijians got it together and finally found a gap with 36 seconds left in the half as captain Kolinisau slipped through for his 109 th Sevens career try.
They then hit back in the second half as Jerry Tuwai made his fifth try of the weekend and Kolinisau made it level at 14-14 with the conversion. But the South Africans managed to pull away again with a try by Dry and a super conversion by Du Preez after which they went on to close out the game.
Earlier, Fiji came through a tense semifinal against last year's runners-up England 31-12, while South Africa didn't have such troubles as they saw off Wales 36-5. Fiji found themselves on the backfoot at the start after England were off the blocks on two minutes through a Ruaridh McConnochie try.
But Fiji level things up two minutes later through Setareki Bituniyata after which captain Osea Kolinisau gave the Fijians the lead through the conversion.
But then again, Dan Norton and captain Tom Mitchell gave Red Rose the lead again on six minutes. Fji, though nullified that advantage through Samisoni Viriviri's try in the final minute of the half as they took the break on level terms.
Neither could get past the defences until five minutes into the second half when Fiji pulled away through Waisea Nacuqu's try and Kolinisau's conversion.
Then, the pair came together again as Fiji went farther away to 26-12 and took the game away from England. Masivesi Dakuwaqa then wrapped things up for Fiji with a try on 15 minutes.
Elsewhere, it was pretty straightforward for South Africa as they ran up a 19-0 lead by half-time and then a 26-0 advantage in the middle of the second half, before the Blitzboks sewed it up.
Earlier in the day, Fiji, who went on to top Pool A by defeating Argentina 22-19, steamrolled France 40-5 in the quarterfinal. Meanwhile, South Africa too, who topped Pool B annihilated New Zealand 40-0 in the last eight.
james@khaleejtimes.com