The Springbok Sevens are likely to face hosts Australia in the semifinals of the Perth Sevens after they lost a close contest to Fiji 20-14 in their final match of their pool.
The loss, which saw Fiji come back from 14-0 down to win, was the third time they have lost in four matches to the Fijians this season.
The strange anomaly that the Blitzboks face Fiji in Pool deciders comes courtesy of World Rugby, whose shortened series has not lived up to their self-publicised hype and has taken away the colour and glamour of the series.
Again it felt like a contest that should have been a genuine thriller, between the No 1 and three ranked sides in the world, was more met with indifference. The teams know each other so well and play each other weekly. Again it was the same old, same old and Fiji’s magic triumphed.
The South Sea magicians are top of the log for being consistent - they are the most consistent side on the circuit, and again on Saturday they won all three their pool games coming from behind.
For the Blitzboks the lessons were clear. Going 14-0 up, they slipped tackles, watched as Fiji ran at them and gave them space. They will learn, but the lessons are shaping up to be hard as another loss puts them to face the form team of the weekend in Australia.
Zain Davids took a perfect pass from Tristan Leyds on attack to ghost through the defence for the first try and Sebastian Jobb got the second in good time.
But a defensive error at the end of the first half was costly as Nagani Bogonisoko fended off Donavan Don and then showed a turn of pace to go in at the corner to put Fiji on the board. Up until then they had little success.
Two yellow cards were also costly for South Africa. Davids threw the ball away and was carded before Bogonisoko’s try, and Ricky Duartee was carded in the second half with two minutes to go and the Blitzboks one point behind. It was a killer blow they never recovered from.
A brace by Viwa Naduvalo and a final try when the Blitzboks were down to six by Iowane Teba finished the game and gave Fiji another win. And ended another pool in disappointment for the Blitzboks.
Earlier they beat Spain 33-14 and Argentina 19-12 to book their spot in the semifinals.