The Blitzboks, in their opener against minnows Papua New Guinea, looked ruthless as they put 50 past the islanders on Friday, which was a real signal of intent for the three-day-long Sydney Sevens.
South Africa play England and Spain on Saturday to determine their place in Sunday’s knockouts, but as the defending World Series and Sydney Sevens champs, the Blitzboks look a real threat already.
Rosko Specman was the first man on the board for the South Africans in 2018 as he benefited from an easy penalty tap.
And more times than not, the Blitzboks knew how to turn such penalties into points.
Ruhan Nel was the next on the board, not long after the kick off. A lineout and clearly a planned move saw Nel sprint from out to in, busting through the Papua New Guinea defence before slamming the ball down to make it 14-0.
Nel doubled up, and Justin Geduld made it three from three as the Papua New Guinea side were left to defend and defend. It eventually was too much for them as play moved to Nel on the wing for a walkover try.
Seabelo Senatla, a constant threat in a game that had by the second half already opened up, was then on hand to run in a try almost straight off the kick off, burning down the left wing.
Specman quickly added his own five points to the now growing score, also slicing down the left wing in a similar style to Senatla, off a quick lineout.
The tries were coming thick and fast as Stedman Gans got on to the board with still three minutes to go, with South Africa comfortably ahead 38-0.
Specman grabbed a hat trick not long after that, running his third try into the left-hand corner as PNG really looked out of it, hardly laying a hand on the South Africans in defence.
Finally, after the hooter had gone, Cecil Afrika got his side to 50 points with a scrumhalf run from five metres out.
South Africa face Spain at 6.03am on Saturday morning and then take on England at 9.14am.