The Blitzboks made an emphatic start to the Wellington Sevens on Saturday after securing a 28-0 win over Australia, which followed a 33-0 thrashing of Japan. CRAIG LEWIS reports.

During a tense opening half against Australia in the Blitzboks' second game of the day, very little separated the two sides as South Africa took just a 7-0 lead into the break.

The Blitzboks’ organised defence again proved to be a hallmark of their game, with the only try of the half created by a lovely grubber from Werner Kok as Seabelo Senatla neatly collected possession before returning the ball to Kok to dot down under the posts.

Powerful defence then created the next try for the Blitzboks as a big hit from Rosco Speckman caused Australia to cough up possession on the tryline, with the ball snapped up by Siviwe Soyizwapi, who powered over from close range.

Speckman also set up the third try with a superb chip and chase to put Dylan Sage away to score and put the result beyond doubt, while Chris Dry added one more try before full-time.

In their opening game of day one, the Blitzboks made light work of Japan as Senatla scored a brace of tries to help his side to a comfortable 33-0 win.

All the damage was really done in the first half where Kok, Chris Dry, Philip Snyman and Senatla all dotted down to establish an unassailable 26-0 lead at the break.

Senatla’s second try after the restart then took his overall tally to 174, now just six short of the Blitzboks’ all-time record.

In their final game on day one, the Springbok Sevens will face Fiji at 08.16 (SA time).

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