Blitzboks snatch last-gasp victory over France thanks to Dylan Sage heroics

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The victory means the Blitzboks finished the pool phase of the tournament unbeaten. They will face Australia in the last quarter-final on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 14h12 (SA time).

However, the Blitzboks will wonder how they squandered a 15-0 lead in two minutes against the resilient France. They can’t afford another slump and will have to kick better at goal, as it could see them miss out on their goal of reaching the semi-finals in Singapore.

The South Africans started well against France, with defensive pressure forcing mistakes from the team in blue.

However, when Selvyn Davids was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-down, the tide seemed to be turning.

A minute later though, France also lost a player to the sin bin and the Blitzboks immediately struck, with Quewin Nortje going over for a great try in the left corner after five minutes.

Shortly after Davids’ return to the field, Tristan Leyds went over in the same corner from a brilliant set move.

The Blitzboks had a scrum and went right, but Shilton van Wyk saw the space on the left and his cross-kick found and unmarked Leyds, whose try made it 10-0.

They were not done yet and after forcing a French knock-on through more pressure on defence, Selvyn Davids darted away for a third try – also unconverted – to see the Blitzboks in control at 15-0 at the break.

Midway through the second half, the French found their rhythm and exploited restart mistakes from the Blitzboks to score three tries in two minutes – two of which were converted – and suddenly, with time almost up on the clock, they led by 19-15.

However, the Blitzboks showed superb resilience and from a penalty on their own 5m-line, Leyds tapped and Rosko Specman found space up the middle of the field, before the ball was worked to the left for Sage, who is playing in his first tournament in four year, to go over for the winner after the buzzer.

South Africa 20 (15) – Tries: Quewin Nortje, Tristan Leyds, Selvyn Davids, Dylan Sage.

France 19 (0) – Tries: Aaron Grandidier (2), JP Barraque. Conversions: Barraque (2).