After 90,000 fans packed into the iconic home of Scottish football giants Glasgow Rangers yesterday, a total crowd of 171,000 was reported for the weekend today, breaking the record attendance for any sevens tournament.

Although many of those in the stands would have been disappointed that no British team reached the last four, they certainly enjoyed the fact that South Africa ended New Zealand's stranglehold on the event after four successive victories.

When Sherwin Stowers touched down under the posts in the first half it appeared to be business as usual for the All Blacks, but the Springboks ferocity and skill soon asked questions that no other team had managed to pose.

On the stroke of half time they deservedly drew level through Seabelo Senatla, and then in the key moment of the match shortly after, a thumping tackle by star man Cecil Afrika forced a turnover deep in New Zealand territory, eventually enabling Senatla to cross for a second.

Afrika himself scored a third minutes later and, although Joe Webber immediately pulled one back, it proved nothing more than a consolation, and South Africa's 17-12 victory was confirmed moments later. 

Cecil Afrika scores one of three South African tries in the final ©Getty Images






South Africa, who have only won one World Series title in comparison with 12 for New Zealand, had shone throughout the competition, knocking-out hosts Scotland in the quarter-final before a 35-7 semi-final thumping of Samoa.

Samoa, who knocked out England to make the last four, were defeated again in their third-place playoff match, with Australia running out 23-0 winners to claim bronze.

They had earlier lost 19-7 to New Zealand in their semi-final.

But while the tournament offered an opportunity for the big guns to shine, it also provided a spot-light for the smaller teams to perform, with one of the biggest cheers of the weekend coming whenever Uganda took to the field.

There is clearly a huge gulf between the bigger and smaller nations,but success for the likes of Sri Lanka, who won the shield final over Trinidad and Tobago, illuminated the widespread growth of the sport.

Inclusion in the Olympic programme for the first time at Rio 2016 will ensure that the sport enjoys more growth over coming months.

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