Sydney Sevens: Fast starts for big guns
The BlitzBoks, New Zealand and Scotland all broke the half-century mark in terms of points in their opening games, while hosts Australia edged the USA in a thriller in Pool D.
There were also wins for Fiji, Argentina, France and England on Day One.
Pool A:
(New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Russia)
Fiji were the favourites going into their opening match against Samoa, but they did not have it all their own way.
The Fijians opened the scoring with a converted try before Samoa hit back with a score.
However, it was Fiji who took a 14-5 lead into the half-time when they scored a second try just before the break,
The Fijians then turned on the gas in the second half by scoring another three unanswered tries to eventually win 31-5.
Russia didn't trouble New Zealand in Pool A's second match.
The Kiwis ran in four tries in the first-half for a commanding 26-0 lead at the half-time break.
New Zealand ran in another five tries in the second half to eventually win 61-0.
Results:
New Zealand 61-0 Russia
Fiji 31-5 Samoa
Pool B:
(Argentina, France, Wales, Kenya)
It was one-way traffic in Pool B's opening game between France and Wales.
The French were in top form in the first half when they scored four unanswered tries to lead 26-0 at the half-time break.
Wales came out fighting in the second half scoring two tries, but it was France who would have the final say in the end with their fifth try.
The match between Kenya and Argentina was a more tightly contested one with Argentina going into the break with a narrow 7-0 lead.
Kenya were the only ones to score in the second half, but a failed conversion meant they fell just short in the end, going down 5-7 to Argentina.
Results:
Argentina 7-5 Kenya
France 31-12 Wales
Pool C:
(South Africa, England, Spain, Papua New Guinea)
Rosko Specman opened the scored in the BlitzBoks' opener against Papua New Guinea.
Two minutes later the BlitzBoks' lead was doubled when Ruhan Nel stretched over for a converted a try and a 14-0 scoreline.
Nel scored another just before the break for a comfortable 21-0 lead.
The BlitzBoks scored five tries in the second half with Specman scoring another two to complete his hat-trick.
Alex Davis made up for lost time in an England jersey. He made an immediate impact on proceedings, scoring the opening two tries against Spain.
The English scored a third before Spain managed to cross the whitewash just before the break.
Both sided scored a try each in the second half with England eventually winning 22-10.
Results:
South Africa 50-0 Papua New Guinea
England 22-10 Spain
Pool D:
(Canada, USA, Australia, Scotland)
Boyd Killingworth gave Australia the perfect start in their crunch match with the USA when he ran in for a converted try.
The USA were then reduced to six men which allowed Australia to double their lead with another converted try when Ben O'Donnell ran in for the score.
Australia added a third try moments later and at half-time, they were leading 19-0.
However, it was a different start in the second half with the USA running in three tries in the first three minutes to draw level at 19-19.
Australia regained the lead with a converted Timothy Anstee try with a minute left on the clock and they eventually held on for the win.
Meanwhile, Scotland were in impressive form in their opening match against Canada.
The Scots scored three converted tries in the first half to lead 21-5 at the break.
It was more of the same in the second half with Scotland scoring another five tries for a convincing 52-5 win.
Results:
Canada 5-52 Scotland
USA 19-26 Australia
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