The Blitzboks set up a top-of-the-table Pool B decider against Argentina on Saturday after a convincing win and a last-minute draw on day one of the Canada Sevens.
A late try by captain Siviwe Soyizwapi and a clutch conversion by Ricardo Duarttee helped the South Africans settle matters after the buzzer 19-19 against France in their opening match at BC Place.
The Blitzboks then thrashed Japan 40-12 in the second game, after leading 26-0 at half-time, as Sandile Ngcobo’s charges looked to make amends for their disappointing LA leg of the 2022-23 World Series last week.
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Soyizwapi scored a brace against Japan to take his tally to four tries in the tournament, while Christie Grobbelaar, Impi Visser, Duarttee and debutant Noegh Hayward were also among the scorers. Duattee (4) and Gurswin Weir succeeded with the conversion.
Against France, Les Bleus raced to a 19-0 lead at half-time, only for the South Africans to launch a second-half comeback.
Duarttee crossed the whitewash for an unconverted try, the second followed from Soyizwapi as the Blitzboks extended France’s lead to 19-12 with just two minutes left, before ‘Shakes’ and ‘Tricky Ricky’ combined at the death to complete the comeback.
SA will face unbeaten Argentina at 11:26 on Saturday to decide which side will advance to the cup quarter-finals in pole position.