Taiwan was unable to stop Rugby Sevens powerhouse Fiji from steamrollering them into submission 40-5 yesterday, at the International Rugby Board's Beijing Sevens in China.
Taiwan was unable to hold back the Pacific Islanders, who are fancied to do well in the tournament.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Meanwhile, traditional rugby powers from the southern hemisphere rolled over the opposition during early play on the first day of competition.
Australia clobbered France 43-4, notching up seven tries and four conversions in a game of near continuous scoring by the Aussies.
New Zealand, another favorite, found success twice during the morning's games, first beating South Korea 26-19, then blanking Japan 19-0. Japan also fell to Argentina, 47-17.
South Africa beat the US 33-5 and Samoa defeated Canada 28-12.
Turnout was lower than expected for the Beijing debut of sevens rugby, considered a tune-up for one of the sport's key competitions in Hong Kong later this month.
Organizers claimed to have sold 2,000 tickets, but only a few hundred fans were on hand at Beijing's National Olympic Sports Center as one of Beijing's notorious springtime dust storms blew grit over the field.
In other play, England hammered a Hong Kong side notably lacking in speed and passing coordination 43-0, and Wales defeated China 29-14.
The hosts face South Africa and the US later in the day.
The 16 teams will play three times to advance to the final round today.
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