The Blitzboks have retained the HSBC World Sevens World Championship title, confirmed during their quarterfinal win over Fiji at the Bordeaux Sevens on Saturday after Australia were demolished 26-0 by France in their own quarterfinal.
The result ended Australia's slim hopes of overhauling the Blitzboks in the standings — their eight-point deficit became insurmountable the moment the final whistle went in the France-Australia match. South Africa's title defence was built primarily on their Hong Kong Sevens title — their first at that event — and a runner-up finish in Valladolid.
The path to confirmation was far from straightforward. The Blitzboks needed a last-gasp losing bonus-point try from Sebastian Jobb in a 15-12 pool defeat to Fiji to sneak into the quarterfinals as the lucky third-placed side. Without it, they would have been competing for ninth place, leaving the door open for Australia. Argentina, who entered Bordeaux just four points off the lead, also failed to qualify for the quarterfinals, effectively removing them from the title equation.
With the championship already secured, the Blitzboks then produced a composed fightback against Fiji in the quarterfinal itself. Trailing after two early Fijian tries, Jobb crossed twice late in the match to level matters, and Ricardo Duarttee — outstanding throughout the tournament — converted the decisive score to seal a 14-12 win.
South Africa now meet France in the semifinal at 13:14 on Sunday, with the World Series title already also in their possession.
The Springbok Women's Sevens side lost 17-5 to Argentina in their pool and face the same opponents in a ninth-place semifinal on Saturday evening.