The Blitzboks failed to repeat their win over Australia in the pool matches and lost 17-12 in a semi-final after two minutes of extra played. The Blitzboks will face Spain at 12:35 (SA Time) in the third-place playoff.
Australia made a quick start to the semi-final when James Turner scored in the corner. Sargeant converted to take the lead 07-00 after two minutes of play in the first half.
Selvyn Davids struck back immediately when he split the defence in two from sixty meters out. Following great interplay by the Blitzboks, Selvyn Davids scored to level the scores at 07-07.
Despite a push by the Blitzboks late in the first half, brilliant defence by the Aussies made sure that the teams went into the halftime break level at 07-07.
Australia dominated the early minutes of the second half, however, Selvyn Davids scored from a Nortje turnover in the corner to extend the Blitzboks' lead to 12-07 with five minutes to play in the second half.
With a minute to go Sidney Harvey levelled the scores at 12-12 which was the final score, forcing extra time.
Australia attacked from the go and a yellow card to the Blitzboks gave Australia a big advantage. Aden Ekanayake scored the winning try for Australia after two minutes of play in extra time.
Australia will face Argentina in the final at 13:35 (SA Time).
Scorers:
Bitzboks: Tries: Selvyn Davids (2). Conversion: Ronald Brown.
Australia: Tries: James Turner, Sidney Harvey, Aden Ekanayake. Conversion: Hayden Satgeant.
Teams:
Blitzboks: Quewin Nortje, Shilton van Wyk, Selvyn Davids, David Brits, Ronald Brown, Zain Davids, Impi Visser. Replacements: Donovan Don, Ryan Oosthuizen, Dewald Human, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Ricardo Duarttee.
Australia: Henry Hutchison, Ben Dowling, Matthew Gonzalez, Aden Ekanayake, Jayden Blake, Michael Icey, Hayden Satgeant, James Turner. Replacements: Ben Dowling, Josh Turner, Maurice Longbottom, Ben Dalton, Sidney Harvey.