A heavy pool stage defeat (22 – 10) to Ireland dashed their quarterfinal hopes in Vancouver.  Ending last in the pool meant that ninth place in the competition was the best they could hope for, and which they achieved when they beat hosts Canada.

The Blitzboks started their Vancouver campaign well, with a solid win over New Zeland (21 – 12), before an inspired Great Brittain beat them 17 -12 in their second pool match.  They needed a win against Ireland but was trailing 10 – 5 at half-time.  Ireland scored again in the second half with Rosko Specman scoring late for South Africa.  However, it was too little too late and South Africa will want to put Vancouver behind them as soon as possible.

At the top end of the table, a last-gasp try by Antoine Dupoint took France in the semi-finals, with USA, log leaders Argentina and New Zealand joining them in the final four. France won a tense quarter-final 12 – 5 over Ireland, while Argentina and the USA dispatched Great Brittain and Samoa respectively.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger