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Blitzboks disappoint with fourth spot

rugby27 January 2019 08:54| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Branco du Preez © Gallo Images

South Africa had to settle with a disappointing fourth spot at the Hamilton Sevens on Sunday, after being soundly beaten by both Fiji and New Zealand on the final day of the competition.

The Blitzboks bowed out of the Cup competition after a blistering Fiji downed them 29-7 in the semifinals, and then were beaten badly by a strong New Zealand side 29-7 in the third place playoff.

The one consolation was that they moved up from fifth to fourth on the HSBC World Series Rankings, moving up past England in the process.

But the same mistakes dogged them that have in the opening few tournaments with yellow cards and missed tackles costing them dearly at times.

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Shakes Soyizwapi was the only scorer in the third place playoff, as New Zealand put five tries past the Blitzboks to the pleasure of the home crowd.

Fiji were rampant in the final, beating the USA 38-0 in a one-sided contest and are now at the top of the log along with the USA, with New Zealand third.

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