The Springboks Sevens team’s Madrid Sevens campaign got off to the worst possible start on Friday after being edged by Ireland at the death in Spain.

The Irish scored a try four minutes after the full-time siren to edge the Springboks Sevens team 26-21 in a thrilling Pool B encounter at the Sevens World Series Grand Finale.

South Africa opened the scoring at the home of Atletico Madrid football with Tiaan Pretorius darting in for a converted try.

A minute before half-time Ireland struck back with Terry Kennedy winning the foot-race to the tryline after the ball was hacked down field.

On the stroke of half-time, Tristan Leyds, went in for a converted try to hand South Africa a 14-7 at the break.

Straight after the interval the Quewin went for a try which was also converted and gave South Africa what should have been a healthy 14-point buffer.

However, Zac Ward scored a try as the Irish mounted their comeback before Gavin Mullen went over to cross the whitewash as well.

As the full-time siren sounded South Africa held a 21-19 lead, but the Irish kept fighting and Mullen went in for the winning score following several passages of sustained pressure.

This was the fourth time this season that Ireland has managed to beat the Blitzboks in the Sevens World Series.

In the other Pool B game on Friday, Fiji beat New Zealand 28-21.

On Saturday afternoon at 12:44 the Blitzboks and New Zealand will lock-horns, while at 15:49 it's South Africa versus Fiji.

South Africa: Tries – Tiaan Pretorius, Tristan Leyds, Quewin Nortjé Conv. – Leyds 2, Selvyn Davids 1

Ireland: Tries – Terry Kennedy, Zac Ward, Gavin Mullen 2 Conv. – Billy Dardis, Hugo Lennox 2

Morgan Piek OFM Sport