Chinese rue bundle of missed chances

For a team who have not played together for the past five months, China gave a good account of themselves as they pushed South Africa right to the edge.

Only over-anxiety, a couple of spilled passes and a failing to take the opportunities prevented China from finishing with a flourish.

South Africa won 29-7. But the score-line belied the close struggle.

China missed at least a couple of clear scoring chances. Forward Wu Zhenling dropped the ball twice over the line while poor handling from back Pan Ruhua saw another couple of chances go begging.

'I'm happy the way they played considering that the team have not had any games since the Asian Championships in Singapore last October,' said George Simpkin, China's technical adviser. 'They showed a lot of commitment.' The glory days of South Africa at sevens rugby seem a faint memory. It was only two years ago in Hong Kong, at the World Cup Sevens, that the South Africans entered the final and lost to Fiji.

With the Super 12 tournament stealing all the stars, South Africa have sent a largely development team. Six of the 10-strong squad are playing for the first time in Hong Kong.