Two converted tries in the first-half, by Zander Reynders and Ricardo Duarttee, were enough to stop the USA in their ninth-place semi-final, although the Blitzboks had to dig deep at the end to keep the Americans out.
Duarttee did the damage, not only with his try that he converted himself, but also by forcing a breakdown penalty at the death, a mere five metres from the South African tryline.
The USA were first to score after the Blitzboks were penalised in their own half from the kick-off, but Reynders pounced a few minutes later after a good spell of attack by the South Africans, with Tristan Leyds converting from wide out.
Duarttee then added his name to the score-sheet shortly before the…