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.

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