Puzzled Blitzboks to have chat with refs

Cape Town - Following his team’s agonising defeat to New Zealand in the Cup Final of the Wellington Sevens, Blitzboks coach Neil Powell plans to sit down with World Rugby’s referees to clear up some issues.

South Africa suffered a 24-21 Cup Final loss after the hosts scored a try after the hooter had sounded.

South Africa led 21-7 deep into the second half, but a yellow card for Rosco Specman cost the Blitzboks dearly as the Kiwis used their one-man advantage to get back into the contest.

The Blitzboks were heavily punished at the breakdown area by referee Matt O'Brien, a New Zealander now based in Australia.

The referee had also called back South Africa - saying that Seabelo Senatla had lost the ball forward in a tackle, after it popped into the hands of Cheslin Kolbe - with the SA flyer having a clear run to the line.

Powell, unable to publicly criticise match officials, felt his team was "unlucky" not to emerge victorious.

"We had bad luck this whole weekend with calls from the referee, it didn't go our way," Powell was quoted as saying by Rugby365.

He added that they will sit down with the referees and see how they can improve.

"If we make mistakes at the rucks, (we need to know) how can we improve that. We got penalised a lot around the rucks."