The Blitzboks’ hopes of winning a fourth Canada Sevens title faded quickly after suffering a heavy pool stage defeat to Ireland on Saturday.
Ireland claimed a 22-10 win against the Springbok Sevens in the final Pool C game, with South Africa finishing last in the pool.
The Blitzboks went into the match needing a win to progress to the quarter-finals, after opening their campaign with a morale-boosting win over rivals New Zealand (21-12), before being brought back to earth in a 17-12 loss to Great Britain.
Ireland went into the break 10-5 up, with David Brits scoring his first try to keep the Blitzboks in the contest.
However, Ireland dominated the second half and extended their lead to 17 points, before Rosko Specman scored a consolation for South Africa.
That left the Blitzboks playing for ninth place and a brace from Impi Visser, together with tries from Specman and Brits, saw South Africa beat hosts Canada 20-14 in the semi-finals.
The Blitzboks will face Australia in the ninth-place final at 9.21 pm (SA time) on Sunday night.
Photo: David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
