Blitzboks turn it on to finish 7th at World Cup in coach Powell's last dance

It was nowhere near the result they wanted, but the Blitzboks have sent coach Neil Powell on his way with one last victory. 

The South Africans beat Samoa 35-5 on Sunday in front of another sizeable crowd at Cape Town Stadium, securing 7th place at the World Cup Sevens in the process. 

Powell, who watched on in dismay as his side was knocked out by Ireland at the quarter-final stage on Saturday night, will now join the Sharks in Durban as director of rugby having spent the last 15 years - nine as head coach - in the Sevens system. 

The Blitzboks had also lost to Argentina earlier on Sunday, but they did at least give the loyal South African fans at the venue something to shout about against Samoa, finally showing what they were capable of all along. 

It didn't take long for the hosts to strike and it was all down to a moment of physical dominance from Sakoyisa Makata, who barged his way over an attempted tackle to score and give his side the lead. 

Ronald Brown added the extra, and the Blitzboks were 7-0 up. 

Angelo Davids then had a try disallowed for a foot in touch, but he was on the board soon after that when he was first to reach a Selvyn Davids kick behind the rushing Samoan defence. 

The Blitzboks continued to dominate the first-half exchanges, and they were rewarded with a penalty try - a Samoan defender had not retreated behind his try line for a South African penalty before making a tackle - after the hooter to take a 21-0 lead into the break. 

It was more of the same after the restart, with the gulf in quality between the sides on full display. 

Skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi was next over while JC Pretorius also scored. Samoa claimed a consolation try through Vaa Apelu Maliko.

Scorers

SA 35 (21)

Tries: Sakoyisa Makata, Angelo