Blitzboks through to Cape Town quarter-finals despite Ireland defeat

It was a case of a slow start costing the South Africans, as Ireland jumped to a 14-5 lead in the first half that proved too much for the men in green and gold to overcome.

Gavin Mullin scored both tries for Ireland in the opening stanza, with only Rosko Specman's unconverted try getting the Blitzboks on the board.

Dewald Human scored the South Africans' second try from a powerful counter-ruck with 30 seconds to go, but could not find another way over the line in the remaining seconds.

South Africa will play Australia, who finished top of Pool C with two wins from three, in Sunday morning's quarter-finals.

In the Blitzboks' opening game, Quewin Nortje scored twice in a 19-5 victory over Great Britain.

The windy conditions didn't seem to bother the hosts, although they would be first to admit that they could have been a bit sharper with ball in hand.

Nortje scored early from a sniping blindside break from the base of a ruck, but Great Britain hit back on the stroke of halftime through Harry Glover.

Geduld then restored the Blitzboks' lead shortly after the break, converting his own try to make it 12-5.

Three minutes later, Nortje was at it again, his second try all but sealing the deal for the host nation as Brown added the extras.

After taking a head knock in the game, however, Shilton van Wyk was ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

In their second match of the day, the Blitzboks comfortably beat USA 26-14.

The South Africans had a great first half and kept the Americans scoreless, while Ryan Oosthuizen and Rosko Specman scored converted tries that had the crowd on their feet.

However, a yellow card early in the second half to Justin Geduld opened the door for the Americans, who scored twice in two minutes through Lucas Lacamp to level the scores at 14-14.

With a number of replacements taking the field, the Blitzboks steadied the ship and late tries by Impi Visser and Ronald Brown sealed the deal.

Scorers

Springbok Sevens 19 (5) Great Britain 5 (5)

Springbok Sevens - Tries: Quewin Nortje (2), Justin Geduld. Conversions: Geduld, Ronald Brown.

Great Britain - Try: Harry Glover.

Springbok Sevens 24 (14) USA 14 (0)

Springbok Sevens - Tries: Ryan Oosthuizen, Rosko Specman, Impi Visser, Ronald Brown. Conversions: Justin Geduld (2), Brown.

USA - Tries: Lucas Lacamp (2). Conversions: Madison Hughes (2).

Springbok Sevens 12 (5) Ireland 14 (14)

Springbok Sevens - Tries: Rosko Specman, Dewald Human. Conversion: Human.

Ireland - Tries: Gavin Mullan (2). Conversions: Hugo Lennox (2).

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