New Zealand beat South Africa 7-5 in the Cup final on Sunday to win the Cape Town Sevens tournament. JON CARDINELLI reports.

It’s been an unforgettable season for South African rugby. The Boks recently finished their season as the Rugby Championship and World Cup champions. They will go into 2020 as the top-ranked side in the 15-man game.

Unfortunately, the Blitzboks could not end their own season on a winning note. While they won the Dubai Sevens and progressed to the final of the Cape Town leg, they were outplayed by New Zealand in the decider.

New Zealand rattled the Blitzboks in the early stages. The partisan crowd inspired the South Africans to repel wave after wave of New Zealand attack, and somehow the scoreline was 0-0 at the break.

RESULTS: Cape Town Sevens (Day 3)

Some sharp work by Seabelo Senatla created a try for Justin Geduld early in the second stanza. The Kiwis hit back, though, and a converted try saw the men in black leading with just a couple of minutes left to play.

The Blitzboks conceded a penalty in the final minute. New Zealand kicked the ball to touch, won the resultant lineout, and then booted the ball into the stands.

Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter