South Africa won all their matches on day one of the Gold Coast Sevens to finish top of their group.
Coach Neil Powell would've been happy with his team's progress, where they seemed to improve as the day wore on. They started with a tight 19-12 victory over a stubborn Welsh outfit, before blowing away newcomers American Samoa in their second match.
Ruhan Nel grabbed a hat-trick on debut, as the South Africans cut loose in the second half to run in nine tries in a 48-0 victory. That result set up a winner-takes-all encounter against Paul Treu's Kenya.
The inexperienced Kenyans were never in the match, with Seabelo Senatla grabbing a hat-trick within five minutes. One negative for the Blitzboks was the injury suffered to Branco du Preez just before half-time, as he spent the second half with ice strapped to his hamstring.
Four further tries in the second half, including a Stephen Hunt hat-trick, meant the Blitzboks ended the day on a high heading into the serious business on Sunday.
Blitzboks results (Day 1):
Beat American Samoa 48-0
Beat Wales 19-12
Beat Kenya 45-0
Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
