Sevens
Bok 7s off to winning start
2010-03-19 10:50
Email | Print
Johannebsurg - With new Springbok Sampie Mastriet scoring a try with his first touch of the ball and adding two more for an impressive hat-trick on debut, the Boks started the defence of their Adelaide title in the IRB Sevens World Series in the best possible way on Friday when they beat Japan 40-0.
The game was soured by the injury to Springbok Steven Hunt who was helped off the field with what looked like a serious knee injury in the first minute.
Japan were initially effective with a swarming defence, helped by a referee who had no idea of the breakdown laws where the losers slowed the ball down and often played from an offside position.
Cecil Afrika's two great conversions had made the halftime score 14-0 after Ryno Benjamin added to Mastriet's score.
Afrika scored virtually from the restart, converted that try and the impressive Mastriet's second, and also that of Mpho Mbiyozo. Mastriet's third was unconverted.
With the tournament scheduled over three days, only one pool round is played on the first day. South Africa meet Samoa and France on Saturday.