All Blacks Sevens have stumbled out of the gate at the Vancouver leg of the World Sevens Series, losing their opening match of pool play to South Africa 21-12 on Saturday morning (NZ time).
The NZ men responded to Selwyn Davids' early try with one of their own through Cody Vai, before Tristan Leyds ran in another with time expired to give the Blitz Boks a 14-5 halftime advantage.
Davids extended that lead in the opening stages of the second half to claim his brace, as Vai ran in a late try for the New Zealanders.
The result leaves them at the bottom of Pool C in the earlygoing, needing a win against Ireland later Saturday afternoon (4:18pm) to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.
There were no such issues for their women's counterparts, with Black Ferns Sevens easing to a 40-7 wn over Brazil to open their account in Canada.
Shiray Kaka, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Michaela Blyde contributed a try double apiece to life their team to the top of Pool A.
They'll face South Africa in their second match of day one at 2:08pm.
