The Blitzboks were booted out of the Los Angeles Sevens title race after defeat to Argentina on Saturday.
Losing 17-0 to Ireland in their opening clash, Sandile Ncgobo’s charges went down 17-5 to the World Sevens Series leaders at the Dignity Health Sports Park, and will tackle Spain in their final Pool A match on Sunday morning (12:54am).
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Rosko Specman soared over in the corner to open the scoring but the Blitzboks lost Impi Visser to the sin bin midway through the first half, and Joaquin Pellandini restored parity before the break.
Desperate defence from the South Africans denied Los Pumas a breakaway score after the restart, but Luciano Gonzales touched down from close range following a botched SA lineout.
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A converted Gonzales score in the closing stages clinched the victory for the South Americans.
“The big battering ram” 💥
Gonzales slides over in the rain 🌧️#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSLAX | @lospumas7arg pic.twitter.com/3OYmKEga6P
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) March 2, 2024
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images