Blitzboks crash and burn, fumble Olympic Games qualification

The Blitzboks crashed out of the France Sevens with a gut-wrenching 21-19 defeat to Australia, a result that sees the South Africans missing out on automatic qualification for year’s Olympic Games.

The Blitzboks will now have to go the continental qualifier route to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics. 

The top four sides in this year’s World Rugby Sevens Series qualify for the Olympics automatically and the defeat to Australia will see them qualify into the top tier next weekend 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.

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HOW THE AUSSIES TOPPLED THE BLITZBOKS

The South Africans started strong against Australia, with Mfundo Ndhlovu darting through in the second minute and a 5-0 lead. Australia pulled one back three minutes later with their converted try giving them a 7-5 lead. A try on the buzzer, by Shaun Williams, converted by Ronald Brown pushed the Blitzboks into a 12-7 lead at the break.

Australia scored from the second half restart and extended that 14-12 to 21-12 with two minutes to play, with Maurice Longbottom dotting 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 was pinged for holding on in a tackle, giving the Aussies the opportunity to close out the game with a touch finder.

ALSO READ: Mixed fortunes as Blitzboks down Fiji, but fall victim to France

QUARTER-FINAL LOSS TO ARGENTINA ON SATURDAY

The loss to Australia, comes after the Blitzboks had been eliminated from the Cup competition at the quarter-final stage by Argentina last night.

Argentina beat them 21-12 to advance to the final four.

“We let ourselves down with this game,” said captain Siviwe Soyizwapi, who was playing in his 50^th tournament.

“We had everything to play for and could have gained much needed points, especially as both Samoa and Australia handed us that opportunity, but we did not take it. And we only have ourselves to blame. 

“It is frustrating, we did so well against Fiji and USA and that gave us a very good opportunity to get some valuable points, but then we didn’t sustain the effort against Argentina. I wish I can lay my finger on why, but I can’t to be honest.”