FRIDAY, 5.30PM:
SOUTH Africa opened its campaign in the Hong Kong Sevens Championships with a 52-7 victory over Thailand on Friday.
The Boks struggled at first with the pace and intensity of the Sevens festival, then pulled themselves together to score eight tries to one and set themselves on course for the play-off rounds on Sunday.
Western Province’s Vlok Cilliers scored 32 points, comprising four tries and six conversions, while Graeme Bouwer, Russell Winter, Roger Smith and Deon Kayser also troubled the scorekeepers.
Thailand scored their only try through Chartchai Thaipakdee after the ball was kicked through a gap in the South African defence.
The Springboks face the Netherlands and Spain on Saturday as they complete their Pool A commitments, and then head into uncharted waters for the play-off rounds.
Other results:
New Zealand 59 Singapore 0
Australia 59 Sri Lanka 0
Fiji 61 Chinese Taipei 0
FRIDAY, 12.15PM:
SOUTH Africa face a tough time at the Hong Kong Sevens championships this year, when they field a side that consists of mainly young and virtually unknown players.
Unlike last year, when the Springboks lost in the final to world-beaters Fiji, the South Africans have been written off as no-hopers even before the start of the tournament.
The side includes only one member of the side of 1997, Graeme Bouwer, while only two other players, skipper Chester Williams and Western Province teammate Vlok Cilliers, have previously played in the festival.
The South Africans open their campaign on Friday against Thailand, and then complete their round-robin matches against Spain and the Netherlands on Saturday.
Squad:
Chester Williams (c), Vlok Cilliers, Graeme Bouwer, Roger Smith, Neill Penrose, Werner Raadt, Deon Kayser, Russell Winter, Dirkie Strydom, Nico Venter.