The Blitzboks crashed out of the Toulouse Sevens on Sunday, a result that will see South Africa take the continental route to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games.
The top four sides in this year’s World Sevens Series automatically qualify for the Olympics and South Africa’s 21-19 defeat to Australia in the fifth-placed semi-finals will see them qualify into the top tier next week in London, where the last tournament of the current series will be played.
South Africa will now have to compete in the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup later in the year in order to try and qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
?? A great score from @Blitzboks to bring the score back to 2️⃣ points!
? Solid ball retention and better skills! ?#France7s | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/jLBZygQukw
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 14, 2023
The Blitzboks started well against Australia, with Mfundo Ndhlovu darting through in the second minute for a 5-0 lead. The Australians pulled one back three minutes later with a converted try.
A Shaun Williams try on the hooter, converted by Ronald Brown, pushed SA into a 12-7 lead at the break.
Australia scored from the second-half restart to take the lead and then made it 21-12 with two minutes to play after Maurice Longbottom dotted down.
James Murphy did pull one back and Justin Geduld’s conversion made it a two-point game.
The Blitzboks had one final chance to attack, but were pinged for not releasing in a tackle and the Aussies closed out the game with a touch finder.
Meanwhile, New Zealand were confirmed the 2022-23 Series champions with a 19-14 victory over France in the cup semi-finals and set up a blockbuster finale against Argentina.
IT’S A NEW ZEALAND DOUBLE! ??#France7s | #HSBC7s | @nz_sevens pic.twitter.com/nrpt0qmMI8
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 14, 2023
Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter