Samoa send Blitzboks packing in France

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The Blitzboks missed out on the cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2013 after being handed a second pool defeat by Samoa on day two of the France Sevens on Saturday.

The 19-7 loss meant that the Blitzboks missed out on the opportunity to progress to the cup playoffs for the first time since the Hong Kong Sevens in 2013. South Africa will finish third in their pool, having also suffered a historic loss to Ireland on the opening day of the France Sevens on Friday.

The Blitzboks will now play for ninth place at the tournament and will next be in action in the ninth-place quarter-final against the team that finish bottom of Pool A at 4:36pm on Saturday.

It was a well-deserved victory for Samoa, who dominated the first half and took a 19-0 lead into the break through a brace of tries from Vaa Apelu Maliko and a solitary effort from Steve Rimoni.

While the Blitzboks tried to fight back in the second half, they would only be able to get a consolation try after Ronald Brown broke from the back of a five-metre scrum to score.

Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

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Dylan Jack