Blitzboks fall to Australia in thrilling Vancouver SVNS encounter

The Blitzboks faced Australia in their final pool match at the Vancouver SVNS needing just a losing bonus point to secure their place in the cup quarter-finals in the early hours of Sunday morning (SA time).

It was the first time the two teams had met since their nail-biting Perth SVNS semi-final that the Australians won with a golden-point try.

And history would repeat itself when the Australians again got the better of the Springbok Sevens in extra time after the scores were tied at 12-all at full time at BC Place.

The Blitzboks were almost caught napping from the kick-off but Philip Snyman’s side soon settled into their defensive pattern as the half progressed.

Some hot stepping, first by playmaker Selvyn Davids and then Ronald Brown, led to skipper Impi Visser’s try for SA.

Brown also made a try-saving tackle moments later to preserve the SA lead.

However, a Henry Hutchison score with seconds left in the half drew Australia level at 5-5 at half-time.

There was a yellow card for Siviwe Soyizwapi early in the second stanza for head-on-head contact with Henry Paterson. The Aussies made the most of it as Paterson scored untouched and the try was converted. Australia led 12-5.

Davids had the chance to level for the Blitzboks despite being a man down after his grubber kick fell kindly to him off a ricochet with the tryline beckoning. For once his boot let him down as ball squirted over the dead-ball line in the kick chase.

Soyizwapi almost made amends for his yellow but was penalised for an extra roll after he landed just short of the tryline.

But it was his vital steal with time running out that allowed Shilton van Wyk to score in the corner.

Replacement playmaker Dylan Leyds nailed the conversion from a tight angle to tie the scores at 12-12.

With both teams unable to break the deadlock in the time remaining, the match went to extra time. The first team to score a point would win the match.

The Blitzboks brought Davids, who had been substituted in the second half, back onto the field in the hope that he would conjure up some magic.

The veteran playmaker almost had the desired effect, with a typical burst down the left wing. But the Aussie defence held firm.

A Josh Turner try for the Australians in the 17th minute gave Australia the win.

Despite the result the Blitzboks topped Pool B, with New Zealand second.

The Blitzboks and Australia were on course for a potential Cup quarter-final meeting in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Blitzboks got their Vancouver SVNS campaign off to the perfect start this weekend, with a hard-fought 12-10 win over New Zealand followed by a 28-7 win over Ireland.

They are hoping to improve on a fourth-place finish in Perth, having won the Cape Town SVNS in December.