In a thrilling conclusion to the tightest women’s series in history, it all came down to the very last game, contested by the two sides locked on 106 points each at the top of the standings.
However, a depleted Australia could not reply to a ferocious Black Ferns Sevens performance, including a hat-trick from Michaela Blyde, their fourth successive tournament gold confirming their place at the top of the regular season standings.
The final tournament of the regular season also brought confirmation of the final standings. France outshone Fiji for the bronze medal in Singapore to confirm third in the standings, and Great Britain secured eighth spot to fight it out in the Grand Final in Madrid, with Brazil joining Japan, South Africa and Spain to compete in the promotion-relegation tournament.
New Zealand win double title
New Zealand came out the blocks fastest, Blyde finding space on the switch to go 80 metres for the first score, but just moments later it was Australia’s star try-scorer Maddison Levi who matched her feat to level the scores.
Isabella Nasser took Australia ahead until Blyde’s pace once again drew New Zealand back into the game, but Australia kept a slim 14-12 lead at the break.
Blyde completed her hattrick after New Zealand created a massive overload on the left wing, made because Australia’s captain Madison Ashby was down injured, having to leave the field soon after.
Australia were under pressure, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe made them pay, racing away to take the Black Ferns Sevens 12 points ahead, despite the best efforts of Faith Nathan to drag her down.
Jorja Miller’s steal had Australia scrambling again, and as Stacey Waaka went over in the corner the final was won for New Zealand, despite Levi’s late consolation for Australia.
In the semi-finals: NZ beat Fiji out the blocks; Nathan nicks it for Australia
Stacey Waaka and Jorja Miller scored two quick tries to assert New Zealand’s dominance in their semi-final with Fiji.
Blyde added a third within four minutes, and the Black Ferns Sevens already looked out of sight, but Ilisapeci Delaiwau gave them a foothold on the half-time gong. Fiji showed signs of a comeback early in the second, but Blyde’s second was enough to seal a 33-22 win.
Montserrat Amedee got the first score in France’s semi-final with Australia, but Maddison Levi pulled them level before the break, her boot just clipping the side line en route to a second.
Faith Nathan’s ninth of the weekend put Australia ahead and her 10th gave them the winning score either side of a French leveller to set up a League Winners shootout with New Zealand in the final.
Bronze final: France outshine Fiji
France took a 12-7 lead into the break against Fiji, Seraphine Okemba and Ian Jason crossing either side of Adi Vani Buleki’s score for Fiji.
Okemba was over again in the second half to extend France’s lead to 10 points, and gave Fiji no let up as Carla Neisen added another under the posts. Lou Noel touched down in the corner just before time for a healthy 29-7 victory.
France head to the Grand Final in Madrid having comfortably finished third in the regular season standings.
