Pool defeats to Fiji and Argentina end Blitzboks' Dubai challenge

By SABC Sport
29th November 2025

The Springbok Sevens team's love affair with the Dubai 7s seems to be on the rocks after they failed to reach the quarter-finals for the second year in a row.

The 11-time champions crashed out of the play-offs for a second consecutive year with Pool A defeats to Fiji and Argentina in the HSBC SVNS opener on Saturday.

The Blitzboks started well by defeating France 15-12 in their opening match, but successive defeats to Fiji (28-10) and Argentina (19-14) eliminated them from play-off contention.

They will now play Great Britain in the fifth-place semi-final, with much reflection needed overnight to deliver a more streamlined performance on Sunday.

Pool A proved close, with France, South Africa, Fiji and Argentina all managing wins. But only the Blitzboks fully understood the equation: they needed to beat the Pumas by 35 to reach the semi-finals.

Trailing 12-0 at half-time made that mission almost impossible. Although South Africa hit back with two second-half tries to edge ahead, their defence - shaky all day - let them down again late on.

The day had started well with a gritty win over France. The Blitzboks scored three tries to two, with two moments of Selvyn Davids brilliance proving decisive.

After France dominated the early exchanges, a turnover allowed Ryan Oosthuizen to race 70 metres for the opener. France hit back for 7-5, before Donavan Don reclaimed the lead by gathering a wicked Davids kick.

Christie Grobbelaar's try, again created by a sublime delayed pass from Davids, stretched the lead to 15-7, with a late France try not enough to change the result.

Against Fiji, the Blitzboks started brightly again, Ronald Brown sniping through for 5-0. But from there the wheels came off.

A missed tackle from Don handed Fiji momentum, and another defensive lapse pushed the islanders into a 14-5 half-time lead.

The second half was more of the same: Fiji dominated the breakdown, pushed the physical limits - without consequence from referee George Selwood - and tore SA apart with sharp attacking touches, racing to 28-5. Tristan Leyds grabbed a late consolation, but the result was long settled.