The reigning champions had won their opening two Pool matches but were made to work a bit harder against their Czech rivals, who had also enjoyed an unbeaten start.

At KZN Westville Campus Indoor Sports Centre, the game was never in doubt for the Netherlands and coach Wim Scholtmeyer had the luxury of being able to rotate his entire bench at half-time.

Although it disrupted the flow of the match, his side cruised to a 23-7 victory.

Earlier in the day, Catalonia recorded their first win of the tournament with captain Javier Sanchez grabbing four goals in a 15-13 triumph against New Zealand.

With the tournament doubling as a qualifier for the 2021 World Games in Birmingham in the United States, progress to the latter stages offers an additional incentive.

The top eight sides will qualify, unless a team finishes in the top 11 and is the highest finishing team from a continent not already having a qualifier, in which case they take the place of the eighth-ranked side.

Chinese Taipei showed their class at the Globe Arena as they applied the pressure against Australia.

The Asian champions delighted the arena with some magical movement and passing to seal a 30-14 win, while the pool's other clash of the day saw Poland edge out Ireland 14-13 with Rafal Diadik scoring the winner in the dying seconds.

Elsewhere Japan defeated hosts South Africa 19-10 in Pool E and China won 29-24 against Hungary in Pool D.

Slovakia won 18-16 against Hong Kong but it is Belgium who lead the way in Pool C after a 27-13 win against England secured a third successive win.