The Blitzboks finished ninth at the London Sevens after demolishing the USA and brought the curtain down on a dreary 2022-23 season at Twickenham on Sunday.
The South Africans shrugged off the disappointment of not making the cup quarter-finals with two big wins on the final day as the tournament drew to a close.
As a result of SA’s failure to win any pool games on Saturday, the Blitzboks didn’t gain automatic qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games and coach Sandile Ngcobo said they were “bitterly disappointed”.
However, the South Africans hit back with two strong performances on Sunday, beating Japan and the USA, after their dispiriting results on Saturday, when they drew one and lost two matches.
ICYMI – Bad to worse for Blitzboks
Great teamwork from South Africa 🇿🇦
Oosthuizen slicing through the defence🔥#HSBC7s | #London7s pic.twitter.com/JH7GpUKRD0
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 21, 2023
The Blitzboks started the day with a 29-7 win over Japan in the ninth-placed semi-final. They looked composed and scored five tries against the Japanese , with Ronald Brown grabbing a first-half brace.
Impi Visser also scored before the break to help them to a 17-7 lead, with Brown’s second try coming late after Japan lost a player to the sin-bin.
Shaun Williams went over early in the second half but he lost ball over the line, however, a minute later Christie Grobbelaar made no mistake after a good chip from Mfundo Ndhlovu. Travis Ismaiel had the last say with his second try for the Blitzboks in only his fifth tournament.
🇯🇵 Japan make their mark!
What an incredible chip and chase from Ishida!🔥#HSBC7s | #London7s pic.twitter.com/Bo84JgLYwm
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 21, 2023
Against the USA, they stepped up a gear and scored seven tries, with Grobbelaar grabbing a brace in a 47-5 victory.
Shilton van Wyk and Ndhlovu crossed the whitewash early in the match, while Grobbelaar and Ryan Oosthuizen also added their names to the score sheet in the first half as the Blitzboks took a 28-0 lead.
Brown, Grobbelaar and Justin Geduld scored after the break before the USA got a consolation try late in the match.
Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter
