The Blitzboks finished fifth at the London Sevens after clinching a 28-17 win over Australia in the Plate final at Twickenham on Sunday.

After suffering a disappointing 17-12 loss to England in the Cup quarter-finals earlier in the day, the Springbok Sevens progressed to the fifth-place playoff as they comfortably overcame Argentina 24-7.

Although the Blitzboks led by just two points at half-time in the Plate final, a brace of tries to Cecil Afrika and a match-winning score from Rosco Speckman ensured their World Rugby Sevens Series campaign came to an end in a positive fashion.

Having wrapped up the series title in Paris last weekend, the Blitzboks struggled on day one in London as they battled past unheralded Wales and Kenya, before suffering a defeat to the USA in their final pool game.

Nevertheless, the Springbok Sevens were able to reach their 10th successive Cup quarter-final of the series, which saw them come up against an England outfit that has been a bogey team for them this season. And it would prove to be the case once again.

England shot into an early lead when Norton scored in the second minute, but the Blitzboks struck an important blow just before the break as Speckman created a try for Chris Dry, with the successful conversion putting South Africa into a two-point lead.

The newly crowned champs appeared set to take control as Werner Kok scored straight from the restart, but the game then turned on its head as the Blitzboks star was contentiously sent to the sin bin for a neck roll soon after.

James Rodwell scored immediately after to draw the scores level at 12-12, and then after regular time, Dan Norton struck to seal the win for England.

All the London Sevens fixtures and results

Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images