Near-perfect start for SA
AS FIRST days of a tournament go, South Africa’s Sevens side enjoyed just about the perfect one yesterday, as they set their sights on the Olympic title.
The atmosphere in the Deodoro Stadium may have been muted, especially in the morning when they beat Spain 24-0, but no team has looked more determined than Neil Powell’s charges.
Even after disposing of the temperamental French 26-0 in the second game of the day, skipper Kyle Brown was still drilling in the finer points to his side, as they look to be as close to perfect as they can be.
While they were chasing ruthless perfection, rivals New Zealand were in contemplation avenue after a rough day at the office in which they lost to Japan.
The Kiwis’ loss was another warning of what can so quickly happen in the Sevens code, and Powell’s men are determined not to make the same mistake.
Against Spain, they almost looked too intense, though they cruised to four tries, with Cecil Afrika helping himself to South Africa’s first Olympic touchdown, and then adding another to the tries of Seabelo Senatla and Philip Snyman.
Afrika’s conversion rate throughout the day was satisfactory, but that will be one of a couple of things that Powell will try to iron out overnight.
The line-out toiled a bit in the occasional breeze, but a cast-iron defence ensured that all of that made no difference.
South Africa were ravenous at the breakdown, and uncompromising around the fringes. They will go a long way with that one-on-one efficiency.
On attack, a classic, sniping break by the indefatigable Kwagga Smith against France was perhaps the team’s moment of the day, though Dylan Sage’s burst and delight over the line were also memorable.
Those memories will be on standby, though, because the mountain gets steeper from here.
Australia are the final Group B fixture today, before a quarter-final in the evening.
The first day’s fantastic work will count for nothing if they don’t back it up when the stakes are raised today.
Powell and his men are now four good games away from their Olympic dream of gold.
Meanwhile, Sonny Bill Williams, the highest-profile player in the rugby Sevens tournament, was ruled out of the rest of the Olympics after sustaining an Achilles injury last night.
“New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out of the Olympic Games rugby Sevens tournament after being injured in the opening pool game against Japan,” said a media statement from New Zealand’s Olympic Committee.
“He suffered a partial Achilles rupture of the left Achilles tendon. He has been replaced by Sione Molia, who is one of the New Zealand Olympic rugby Sevens team’s travelling reserves.” – Reuters