The Springbok Sevens suffered two more defeats in Spain on Saturday and will contest the fifth-place semi-finals of the HSBC SVNS in Madrid on the third of the final tournament of the 2024 season.
The South Africans lost 33-24 against New Zealand in a dramatic match and then 26-7 to Fiji to finish last in Pool B and winless so far in Spain.
To add insult to injury, Dylan Sage cried off with a knee injury and is an unlikely starter on Sunday.
As reported by The South African website, the Blitzboks lost 26-21 to Ireland in their opening pool match on Friday.
Three yellow cards
The match against New Zealand touched on the bizarre, with the Blitzboks given three yellow cards in quick succession for tackle infringements and at one stage they only had four players on the field to front up to the New Zealanders.
Despite that – and even scoring a try with five players on the field – the final say belonged to the Kiwis in a match where the lead changed hands six times.
Two tries in quick succession by Christie Grobbelaar and Quewin Nortje eliminated the advantage an early Dylan Collier try gave New Zealand, before a penalty try to the Kiwis cancelled out a Selvyn Davids try.
The second half was again helter skelter, but Moses Leo had the final say with his try after the final hooter, giving New Zealand the edge.
Against Fiji, the Blitzboks looked flat against an opponent who looked full of life.
The Fijian offloading game asked too many questions of the defence and they were up 21-0 at the break.
The second half saw a better SA effort, but in the end, they came up short, not only in the match, but on the day.
SCORERS
South Africa 24-33 New Zealand
South Africa
Tries: Christie Grobbelaar, Quewin Nortje (2), Selvyn Davids
Conversions: Justin Geduld, Tristan Leyds
New Zealand
Tries: Dylan Collier, Penalty Try, Leroy Carter (2), Moses Leo
Conversions: Andrew Knewstubb (2), Akuila Rokolisoa
South Africa 7-26 Fiji
South Africa
Try: Rosko Specman
Conversion: Tristan Leyds
Fiji
Tries: Jerry Tuwai, Waisea Nacuqo, Tira Wilagi, Viwa Naduvalo
Conversions: Nacuqo (3)