Blitzboks off to perfect start

South Africa played brilliantly off the ball to secure a seven-try 49-0 win over Japan in their opening game of the London leg of the HSBC Sevens Series on Saturday.

The Blitzboks were relentless on defence and ruthless at the breakdown as they pounced on every attempted Japanese attack to turn over possession and run amok among the disorganised defence.

Kurt-Lee Arendse managed to cross the white line twice, while Branco du Preez, Justin Geduld, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Selvyn Davids and Sakoyisa Makata also eased past the chalk.

This will have been exactly the opening fixture that coach Neil Powell and his charges would have wanted; enough to shake the cobwebs, but easy enough to get some in-match metres in everyone’s legs.

The Blitzboks will next face Canada at 3:26pm.