Philip Snyman said the Blitzboks must realise they have one more opportunity in Monaco to salvage their season after finishing sixth in the Sevens Grand Finale on Sunday.

After losing their three pool matches – against Ireland, New Zealand and Fiji – in Madrid, the South Africans delivered their best performance of the weekend in the fifth-place semi-final against Australia on Sunday morning, winning by 24-21.

However, Snyman’s charges could not replicate that in the fifth-place playoff against the Irish, who won a close contest 12-7.

According to the interim coach, SA’s lack of consistency was clear to see, adding that the Blitzboks mixed good and bad over the last three days.

“We are disappointed in winning only one of five matches – we worked hard and came close,” he said.

“We were two seconds away from beating Ireland in the pool match, but conceded possession and they went on to score the winning points.

ICYMI – Blitzboks finish sixth in Madrid

“Against New Zealand, we were ahead with 30 seconds to go, conceded possession and they went to score the winning points. So, it is close, but we are just not quite where we want or need to be.”

Snyman highlighted their breakdown play and tackling as the main areas of improvement if South Africa wants to be successful in Monaco later this month in the winner-takes-all Olympic Repechage tournament.

“We were shown up in those two areas in Madrid,” he said. “Teams have picked this up and are targeting us in those areas, so we need to focus on that in the next couple of weeks.”

Snyman is adamant that the season, which delivered one tournament win in Dubai and a seventh-place finish overall, can still be rescued with Olympic glory.

“We are getting there,” he said. “It is frustrating that we undo five good things with three poor executions and losing games because of that. The focus for Monaco will be those areas and to eliminate those errors from our game.”

Snyman said the time for learning is over: “We must realise we have one more opportunity and if we stuff up in Monaco, that will be it. It is time for us to deliver.”

Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter

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