Cape Town Sevens: BlitzBoks blow Japan away
DAY ONE WRAP: Hosts South Africa, the winners in Dubai, and beaten finalists New Zealand both started with comfortable wins on Day One of the Cape Town Sevens.
South Africa outclassed Japan 49-0 while New Zealand romped to a 43-7 win against Wales.
Fiji bounced back from their poor showing in Dubai with a 28-14 win over the USA.
There were also a few upsets on Day One with Australia going down 21-26 to Ireland in Pool D, while Scotland edged England 26-24 in Pool C.
Kenya were also surprise 24-19 winners over Samoa.
The BlitzBoks opened the scoring in the first minute when Seabelo Senatla picked up a loose ball near the Japanese tryline to go over and get the first try.
Japan were then given some hope when Rosko Specman was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock down in the second minute.
However, that did not stop the BlitzBoks from extending their lead a few moments later with Kurt-Lee Arendse running in for a score.
Arendse got his second try before the end of the first half.
All three first-half tries were converted for a 21-0 lead for the BlitzBoks at half time.
It was more of the same in the second half with JC Pretorius scoring South Africa’s fourth try before Senatla got his second of the game.
Two more tries from Selvyn Davids and Ruhan Nel ended a convincing performance from Neil Powell’s side.
In the women’s competition, Dubai champions New Zealand brushed aside South Africa 40-0.
“This system makes me smile. This format makes me smile so I’m glad to be back…”
Seabelo Senatla speaks after @Blitzboks got the #CapeTown7s started with a win over Japan.#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/TQcuNDkDJP
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 13, 2019
Day One Results:
MEN:
Pool A:
USA 14-28 Fiji
South Africa 49-0 Japan
Pool B:
Argentina 33-21 Canada
New Zealand 43-7 Wales
Pool C:
France 40-7 Spain
England 24-26 Scotland
Pool D:
Australia 21-26 Ireland
Samoa 19-24 Kenya
WOMEN:
Pool A
Fiji 38-19 Russia
New Zealand 40-0 South Africa
Pool B
France 36-12 Spain
Canada 32-0 Brazil
Pool C
Australia 32-0 England
United States 38-0 Ireland
Main photo: @Blitzboks
Nobody does it better. Nobody.
Fiji are the offload kings 👑#CapeTown7s pic.twitter.com/BjlejdohLX
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 13, 2019
