The Blitzboks fought back from a 24-05 deficit to level the score to force extra time against Australia. Unfortunately, Australia secured their place in the semi-finals with a try in extra time to win 29-24.
Australia started like a house on fire and opened the scoring with two early tries to lead 12-00. Not to be outdone the Blitzboks attacked out wide creating pace for Zain Davids to blitz down the touchline to reduce Australia's lead to 12-05. Australia struck back with a try in the corner to lead 17-05 at the halftime break.
Australia struck from the kickoff to lead 24-05 with five minutes to play. However, the Blitzboks were not done and scored two tries in quick succession to cut Austalia's lead to 17-24 and two minutes to play. With 25 seconds left to play Quewin Nortje scored the Blitzboks' fourth try to level the scores at 24-24.
Strange decisions by the Blizboks in extra time and a yellow card shown to Shilton van Wyk opened a gap for the Aussie captain to score the winning try and qualify for the semi-finals.
Scorers:
Blitzboks: Tries: Zain Davids, Tristan Leyds, Christie Grobbelaar, Quewin Nortje. Conversions: Tristan Leyds, Selvyn Davids.
Australia: Nathan Lawson (2), Dietrich Roache, Henry Hutchison, Nick Malouf. Conversions: Dietrich Roache (2).
Teams:
Blitzboks: Quewin Nortje, Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, Selvyn Davids, Tiaan Pretorius, Zain Davids, Christie Grobbelaar. Replacements: Siviwe Soyizwapi, Kat Letebele, Dylan Sage, Rosko Specman.r, Impi Visser.
Australia: Henry Hutchison, Ben Dowling, Nick Malouf, Michael Icely, Hayden Sargeant, Nathan Lawson, Dietrich Roache. Replacements: Michael Hooper, James McGregor, Henry Palmer.