The Blitzboks were out of contention for the big prize when they lost 22-17 to France in the quarter-finals of the tournament on Saturday night.

The French scored from the kick-off when Jonathan Laugel went over in the corner for the first points of the last eight encounter. Nelson Epée doubled the lead with a try in the third minute of the game.

South Africa eventually got on the scoreboard toward the end of the first stanza when Christie Grobbelaar crossed the whitewash.

Dalvon Blood then scored for the Blitzboks two minutes into the second half, but the French struck back twice in a matter of minutes with Laugel and Varian Pasquet going over.

Shaun Williams scored for South Africa right at the death, but it was too-little, too-late and they were out of the running in the Cup competition.

In the fifth and sixth place play-off the Blitzboks were beaten 21-14 by Ireland.

Argentina went on to win the Hamilton Sevens after beating the hosts, New Zealand, 14-12 in the Cup final.

The Sevens World Series now crosses the Tasman Sea for the Sydney Sevens that will be contested from 27-29 January.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport