Blitzboks suffer agonising quarter-final loss to Australia in extra time

It was high drama in the match against the Aussies, who led by 24-5 with three minutes to go, but three Blitzbok tries - by Tristan Leyds, Christie Grobbelaar and Quewin Nortje - saw them level the scores at the death.

In added time, with the golden point at play, the Blitzboks had a kickable penalty, but opted for a scrum and failed to convert. Moments later, Shilton van Wyk was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, which opened the necessary space for Nick Malouf to score the match-winning try and send the Aussies into the semi-finals.

South Africa will now play world series leaders Argentina for fifth place, at 09h55 (SA time) on Sunday morning.

Earlier on Saturday, Dylan Sage scored a magnificent try after the buzzer to help secure a nail-biting 20-19 victory in their final pool game.

Roles were reversed in the quarter-final though, with the Aussies taking a commanding 24-5 lead before the drama late in the match.

Leading by 17-5 at the break - with Zain Davids' brilliant 60m effort the Blitzboks' only points as they had almost no possession in the half - Australia added a fourth try 90 seconds into the second stanza.

With four minutes to go and time running out, Leyds scored from a tap penalty, but the conversion again sailed wide - this was the Blitzboks' 10th consecutive failed conversion, which is something they will have to address.

From the restart, Grobbelaar pounced on a loose ball behind a ruck and crashed over, with Leyds adding the extras to make it a seven-point game.

Nortje then ripped open the Aussie defence in midfield for a try under the uprights with 30 seconds to go, but four minutes later, in extra time, Van Wyk's yellow and Malouf's try ended the Blitzboks' charge in Singapore.

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