A Sebastian Jobb try with the clock winding down has salvaged the Blitzboks' World Championship ambitions in Bordeaux, converting what looked like a pool-stage exit into a quarterfinal berth as one of the lucky losers — and setting up an immediate rematch with Fiji on Saturday at 15h52.
The Blitzboks went into their final pool match already carrying the damage of an opening-day defeat to Great Britain, and Fiji compounded their difficulties when Shakes Soyizwapi was yellow-carded following what replays suggested was a dive by Viwa Naduvalo rather than a genuine trip — a decision referee Ben O'Connor never reviewed. Apete Narogo punished the one-man advantage to put Fiji ahead.
The Blitzboks responded with one of the passages of play of the tournament: Ricky Duarttee beat several defenders, launched a 40-metre crossfield ball to Tristan Lleyds, who double-stepped three Fijians before offloading backwards into Shilton van Wyk's hands to score. Fiji's George Bose and Naduvalo then crossed after the break to put the result beyond doubt at 15-5, before Jobb's late try made it 15-12 and secured the bonus point that proved decisive in the lucky-loser standings.
The arithmetic now works clearly in South Africa's favour. Argentina, who finished third in their pool, were sitting four log points behind the Blitzboks going into the match; denied a quarterfinal, their maximum return from Bordeaux is four points, meaning they can no longer catch the Blitzboks in the Championship standings. Australia, who topped their pool and won in Valladolid last weekend, are the remaining threat — eight points adrift in the overall standings. A Blitzboks finish no lower than fifth should be enough to clinch the title regardless of what Australia do, though a Fiji win on Saturday combined with an Australian title would tighten the race further. If South Africa beat Fiji or Australia lose to France in their quarterfinal, the Championship goes to the Blitzboks.