The Blitzboks qualified for the Rio and Tokyo events by finishing in the top four HSBC SVNS series in 2016 and 2020, but had a torrid season in 2024, finishing seventh overall. They also lost the final of the Rugby Africa Sevens, but their second place in Harare earned them a passage to the repechage.
In Monaco however, it all came together with a workmanlike display of guts and then glory.
On day three, they outplayed Uganda 26-0 in the quarters and then Canada 28-0 in the semifinals.
In the final, Quewin Nortje opened the scoring after a delightful Selvyn Davids foot pass and Tristan Leyds converted for a 7-0 lead. Team GB came back strongly though and after a spell of good possession, Robbie Ferguson scored in the corner to cut the lead to two.
From the restart, Shilton van Wyk ran 50 meters to score (converted by Leyds) and at the break, South Africa were 14-5 up.
The second half was dominated by big hits and furious defence, especially by the Blitzboks, who were not going to denied and held out to book the trip to their third consecutive Olympics.
Scorers
Springbok Sevens 26 (19), Uganda 0 (0)
SA Tries: Tristan Leyds (2), Zain Davids, Shaun Williams. Conversions: Leyds (2), Williams.
Springbok Sevens 28 (14), Canada 0 (0)
SA - Tries: Selvyn Davids (2), Tristan Leyds, Rosko Specman. Conversions: Leyds (3), Shaun Williams.
Springbok Sevens 14 (14), Great Britain 5 (5).
SA - Tries: Qewin Nortje, Shilton van Wyk. Conversions: Tristan Leyds (2).
GB - Try: Robbie Ferguson.
