It was hartseer once again at the end of the Cape Town Sevens event on Sunday night as the Blitzboks failed to get past six-man Fiji in the semifinal.
Having booked their place in the final four with a quarterfinal win over Scotland (21-12) earlier Sunday, it looked like South Africa were on their way to the final with less than two minutes left to play against Fiji and the scoreboard reading 12-12.
With Vatemo Ravouvou sin-binned for an offside infringement, the Blitzboks had a penalty.
But they conceded possession and, although, Justin Geduld made a great steal, his pass to Branco du Preez was knocked on.
CHAMPS: Cape Town 7s winners Fiji. Photo: Phando Jikelo. African News Agency/ANA
From the resulting scrum, Fiji kept possession and replacement Alosio Naduva then sprinted clear to race home for the match-winning try and break South African hearts.
Coach Neil Powell’s men then faced New Zealand in the Bronze final.
South Africa then showed some fight in their game.
After letting a 21-14 lead slip at the end of their pool match against the Kiwis to lose 26-21 on Saturday, it was the Blitzboks that produced a strong enough display to come back from 5-0 down and win the match 10-5 to claim bronze.
Fiji, meanwhile, beat USA 29-15 in the final to be crowned champions of the SA Sevens leg.