Overview
- France led 12-0 at half-time through early tries by Paulin Riva and Simon Desert before closing out a 12-5 semi-final win.
- Ricardo Duarttee received a yellow card in the first half as South Africa’s early errors left them pinned in their own territory.
- Christie Grobbelaar scored after the break to trim the deficit, but France’s late defensive stand denied a Blitzboks equaliser.
- Fiji rallied from 14-0 down and overcame a first-half yellow card to beat New Zealand 21-14 in the other semi-final.
- Earlier in the pools, South Africa defeated Spain 21-14 and Great Britain 33-12 before a 24-19 extra-time loss to Fiji sealed by Nacani Boginsoko.