The Blitzboks beat Canada 33-5 and played to a 19-19 draw with Ireland in their last two pool matches to advance to the Cup quarter-finals at the Los Angeles Sevens.

South Africa had beaten Kenya 31-5 in their opening match, before facing the Canadians and Irish in their final Pool B clashes.

In the match against Canada, the Springbok Sevens team conceded an early try as they fell behind on the scoreboard. But they were undeterred by that setback.

While they didn’t concede again, it took a while for the Blitzboks to get going but once they did, they ran Canada off their feet. Captain Stedman Gans and Cecil Afrika crossed for two tries late in the first half and Selvyn Davids added the conversions for a 14-5 lead at the break.

There would be no way back for Canada, as the Blitzboks seized control of the game. South Africa went over for three more scores, including a brace from Muller du Plessis, to seal a convincing win.

They were less convincing in the clash with Ireland. The Irish took the game to South Africa and ultimately opened a 19-7 lead over their more accomplished opponents. But with two minutes remaining, Kurt-Lee Arendse pulled one back for the Blitzboks to make it a seven-point game. Then, in the final play of the match, Gans scored in stoppage time and Davids converted to snatch a dramatic draw.

The set of results means the Blitzboks finished top of their pool and will now face the USA in the Cup quarters at 8:49pm on Sunday night.

Photo: Gallo Images