Tonga produced the only surprise in the opening 12 matches of the Commonwealth Games rugby union sevens competition here Thursday, beating medal contenders South Africa 26-19.
The hard-tackling South Pacific islanders fully deserved their Pool D win at the Telstra Dome, where the roof was closed, and were led superbly by inspirational captain Tevita Tu’ifua.
The former Auckland winger scored a hat-trick of tries as South Africa, bronze medallists in the 2002 Commonmwealth Games in Manchester, failed to gain any meaningful territorial advantage and suffered at the breakdown.
The South Africans will now have their work cut out in a pool that also includes Samoa, easy 31-10 winners over Uganda.
Fellow tournament heavyweights Fiji, New Zealand and England all progressed smoothly against some largely inferior opposition, while hosts Australia shone in their one encounter against a woeful Sri Lankan side.
Fiji beat Canada 31-14 in their opening Pool B match, the scoreline flattering the Canucks, who never looked like really threatening a Waiseve Serevi-led Fijian team that could afford to leave the maestro’s outstanding apprentice William Ryder on the bench.
The Fijians also racked up a 63-0 score against Niue, whose team is picked from just 200 senior rugby players from a total island population of 2Â 000.
In the same group, Canada did well to hold off Scotland, 33-5 victors over Niue, winning 10-7 and scuppering the Scots’ realistic chances of a quarterfinal spot.
In Pool A, New Zealand had a brief scare against a Welsh team that scored two quick tries after half-time to draw level, perhaps buoyed by a rendition of Tom Jones’ Delilah over the public address system.
But the Kiwis tightened up and scored two great tries through impressive newcomer Corey Jane, with veteran Amasio Valence running things smoothly in midfield and adding four conversions in the 35-10 win.
New Zealand went on to beat Namibia — who also lost 31-5 to Kenya — 41-7 while Wales blanked the Kenyans 33-0.
Pool C is lining up for a mouth-watering clash later on Thursday between England and Australia, after both sides impressed in their matches against the Cook Islands and Sri Lanka respectively.
England won 35-5 while the hosts racked up a 73-0 scoreline over the Sri Lankans, with impressive displays by the quartet of Wallaby heavyweights called up to give the team a medal hope.
Chris Latham notched up a hat-trick of tries, Scott Fava and Matt Giteau a brace apiece and Lote Tuquiri one, the Fijian-born winger also producing a series of bone-rattling tackles on the outclassed Asians.
”Sri Lanka is not the toughest opponent, but it was a good start and good for the confidence,” said Tuqiri. – Sapa