Blitzboks' nightmarish Sevens run receives boost with victory over hosts Canada

The Blitzboks' nightmarish outing at the Vancouver Sevens received a much-needed boost as they beat tournament hosts Canada 31-14 on Sunday night. 

The result means that South Africa will now meet Japan in the 13th-place final at 00:57 (SA time) on Monday morning. 

A draw to France and then defeat to Argentina meant that the Blitzboks could not get out of their pool, and things then went from bad to worse when they lost to African neighbours Canada in their 9th-place quarter-final. 

Things are certainly not going according to plan for coach Sandile Ngcobo and his charges currently, and they did not have it all their own way in an often scrappy clash against the Canadians, either. 

Skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi opened the scoring, but Canada hit back to level matters and the South Africans had to wait until after the half-time hooter to get their second when Christie Grobbelaar went over. 

Canada then hit back immediately after half-time, and with the home crowd right behind them, they were starting to believe at 14-14. 

Impi Visser then galloped the length of the field after taking a break to put the Blitzboks ahead for the third time in the game, and with the conversion missed, South Africa led 19-14 with three minutes to play. 

When Ricardo Duarttee went over for the Blitzboks shortly after that, there was finally some breathing room, and he even had time for a second to leave the Blitzboks with five tries to Canada's two. 

Scorers:

Canada 14 (7)

Tries: Lachlan Kratz, Jake Thiel

Conversions: Kratz (2)

SA 31 (14)

Tries: Siviwe Soyizwapi, Christie Grobbelaar, Impi Visser, Ricardo Duarttee (2)

Conversions: Duarttee (3)