Rugby

Bad to worse for Blitzboks

The Blitzboks had been knocked out of the London Sevens title race and automated 2024 Olympics qualification after defeat to New Zealand of their ultimate pool conflict on Saturday.

The South Africans had all of it to play for of their final match of the day in opposition to the 2022-23 Series champions after shedding and drawing their first two Pool A video games at Twickenham.

After happening by 19-15 to Great Britain first up, the USA scored two late tries to draw 26-26 with the Blitzboks, who performed a lot better of their second conflict of the day.

The Kiwis raced right into a 20-0 half-time lead thanks to a first-half hat-trick of tries from Akuila Rokolisoa and a Che Clark landing.

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Glimmer of hope

Blitzboks powerhouse Impi Visser supplied a glimmer of hope after the restart when he raced in beneath the posts, however a brace of tries from Xavier Tito-Harris all however killed off the sport for SA, earlier than comfort scores for Mfundo Ndhlovu and Ryan Oosthuizen in a 32-21 defeat.

The Blitzboks wanted to qualify for the cup quarter-finals in London to keep within the operating for automated Olympics qualification, leaving Australia and Samoa to vie for the honours, and SA now having to go the African qualifier route.

Sandile Ngcobo’s costs, although, will want to choose themselves for a ninth-placed semi-final duel with Japan on Sunday (12:13pm).

This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished right here with permission.


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