OLYMPIC SEVENS: Japan shock New Zealand
Both teams scored two tries in the game with only a conversion separating the two teams at the end of the match.
New Zealand will also be sweating over the fitness of Sonny Bill Williams after he had to leave the field with an ankle injury.
In the other Round One action, Great Britain and France impressed with their wins over Kenya and Australia respectively.
Argentina edged the United States 17-14 in an entertaining game in Pool A, while favourites Fiji were way too strong for hosts Brazil.
South Africa started their Olympic campaign with a 24-0 win over Spain.
Pool A:
(Fiji, Argentina, USA, Brazil)
Axel Muller was the first to score in Pool A's opening clash between Argentina and the United States on Day One.
Fernando Luna increased Argentina's lead before the USA were awarded a penalty after a high tackle by Juan Imhoff. Imhoff was also sent to the bin.
The USA then took the lead when Danny Barrett scored his team's second try. However, Matias Moroni secured victory for the South Americans with the very last move of the game for a 17-14 scoreline.
In the next game in the Pool, the crowd went absolutely nuts when Brazil opened the scoring in their match against favourites Fiji.
The hosts made life tough for Fiji, but Jasa Veremalua eventually settled some nerves when he scored a converted try to give Fiji a 7-5 lead at the break.
It was all Fiji in the second half as they scored five more tries to win 40-12.
Results:
Argentina 17-14 USA
Fiji 40-12 Brazil
Pool B:
(Australia, France, South Africa, Spain)
France captain Terry Bouhraoua had the honour of scoring the first try in the competition against Australia in the opening few minutes of the day's first game.
Bouhraoua then scored again and converted again before adding another penalty to give France a very comfortable 17-0 cushion at the break.
Australia came out firing in the second half with tries from Jesse Parahi and Ed Jenkins. However, tries from Manoel Dall Igna and Bouhraoua secured a fantastic 31-14 win for the French.
In Pool B's other Round One game South Africa made a nervy start to their campaign scoring only two tries via Cecil Afrika to lead 14-0 at the break against Spain.
In the end, it was a comfortable win for South Africa with Seabelo Senatla and Philip Snyman going over in the second half for a 24-0 scoreline.
Results:
France 31-14 Australia
South Africa 24-0 Spain
Pool C:
(Great Britain, Kenya, New Zealand, Japan)
Great Britain looked well organised and dangerous in their opening game against Kenya.
Dan Norton, Phil Burgess, Dan Bibby and Mark Bennett all scored tries to give the British a commanding 24-0 lead at half-time.
The Kenyans made a better start to the second half with Billy Odhiambo reducing the deficit with a try. However, it did not help their cause any bit with Great Britain scoring again through Bibby to seal an impressive 31-7 win.
Japan took a surprising lead in their game against a star-studded New Zealand team with Teruya Goto going over for the first try.
New Zealand hit back through a Scott Curry try to level matters, but it was the Japanese who would go into the half-time break the happier of the two teams.
Akira Ioane gave the New Zealanders the lead early in the second half when he showed his strength to blast through the middle of the Japanese defence. However, that lead was shortlived when Kameli Soejima scored a converted try to give Japan a 14-12 lead.
Japan eventually held onto to that slender lead to cause one of the biggest upsets in Sevens history.
Results:
Great Britain 31-7 Kenya
Japan 14-12 New Zealand
Upcoming fixtures:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus three hours)
Australia v Spain – 16.00
South Africa v France – 16.30
Great Britain v Japan – 17.00
New Zealand v Kenya – 17.30
United States v Brazil – 18.00
Fiji v Argentina – 18.30
