Ferns win third 7s in a row in Sydney

The Black Fern Sevens look unbeatable in the World Series after a dominant performance over three days in Sydney that saw them get better and better.

With Australia missing out on the last four, and the USA taking bronze, these two are now tied in second place in the series a huge 12 points behind, while France and Ireland are tied for fourth a further 14 points adrift.

Sydney saw a return of the three day format, which will disappear next year when the reduction in the size of the men’s sevens will allow all tournaments to be played over two days.

Day one saw the ever-improving Japanese record their biggest ever win with 55-0 result against Papua New Guinea but it was New Zealand who dominated the pool with two wins from two, scoring eight tries in a 48-0 win over Papua New Guinea and beating France, in what was to prove to be a preview of the final, by 29-14.

The final round of pool games took place the on day two, and here France confirmed their quarter final spot with a 41-7 victory over Papua New Guinea, while New Zealand beat Japan 27-12 – another impressive performance by the Japanese that saw them into a second consecutive quarter-final.

Pool B began with a thriller as Great Britain came back from a 5-0 half-time deficit to beat Fiji 17-5, following this with a 19-5 win against Canada to end the opening day with two wins from two.

The USA also edged out their North American rivals Canada 14-12 but they were on the end of a shock in their second game, losing 17-14 to a Fiji side that kept the ball alive at every opportunity.

However, the overnight rest upended form in this pool. On Day Two Fiji overwhelmed Canada 34-7 for second pool win, before USA edged out Great Britain 12-10. With all three teams on two wins

Great Britain topped the pool on points difference, Fiji were awarded second place and USA third as all three went through to the quarter-finals.

Pool C began with a shock for hosts Australia as they had their line breached five minutes into their opening game against Brazil. But it was only a minor inconvenience though as Tim Walsh’s side went on to win 28-10 thanks to a brace from Bienne Terita and a try apiece for Madison Ashby and Teagan Levi.

Levi was the creator for sister Maddison as Australia closed out day one with a 46-0 win against Spain. Australia handled the wet conditions very well and scored eight tries, with Maddison Levi responsible for half of them.

Ireland also won both their games on the opening day, beating Spain 14-12 win and Brazil 26-12, Beibhinn Parsons being the key to both wins.

On Day Two Brazil saw off a lacklustre Spain 31-5 before Australia won the pool decider thumping Ireland 43-7 to make it three wins from three.

The second day ended with a truly remarkable – indeed unique - series of quarter finals which ended with only one of the three pool winners reaching the semi-finals.

First, Pool B winners Great Britain fell to the USA 10-5 – a repeat of the result earlier in the day so not a huge shock as the defeat the Pool C winners that followed it. Hosts Australia fell 10-5 to France, Chloé Pelle and Carla Neisen with tries.

The run only ended when Michaela Blyde, Jorja Miller (2), Stacey Fluhler and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe saw Pool A winners New Zealand romp to a 33-0 win against Japan.

In the other quarter final Lucy Mulhall, Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe (2) and Eve Higgins then scored tries for Ireland as Fiji were put to the sword 26-12.

Down to the last four, France again threw the Series formbook out of the window, taking full advantage of the USA errors to win 20-7 and reach their first Series Cup final since Kitakyushu in 2018.

After a brilliant cover tackle from Kristi Kirshe had prevented Joanna Grisez from scoring, France were not to be denied in their second attack. And it was no surprise that Ian Jason was the instigator, France’s number 88 has been excellent all week and her show-and-go led to Yolaine Yengo going over.

The next two tries were down to USA mistakes. Camille Grassineau capitalised on a handling error inside the USA 22 for Les Bleues’ second try before David claimed an overthrown lineout and found Carla Neilson who charged through.

Lauren Doyle’s try was reward for the effort the USA were still putting in but, fittingly, David has the final word with France’s fourth try.

New Zealand had an easier ride against Ireland in the other game, a Shiray Kaka hat-trick the highlight as a ruthless New Zealand brushed Ireland aside to win 41-0.

And so to the final – which was a rerun of the Tokyo Olympics climax – bringing brought New Zealand and France together for the second time in Sydney. And the outcome was the same as the Black Ferns Sevens won their third straight title in Sydney and their 30th on the Series overall with a brilliant six-try display.

Player of the Final Jorja Miller’s well-timed pass put Tenika Willison away for the game’s first try and it was one-way traffic thereafter with the Black Ferns Sevens proving ruthless in attack and giving no quarter in defence.

New Zealand held an almost unassailable 21-0 half-time lead and despite their best efforts, France couldn’t stop New Zealand from creating more opportunities, and even though Miller was stopped just short by a last-ditch tackle, she still had the presence of mind and the skill to execute a pop-up pass into the hands of Willison.

Willison’s second and Nathan-Wong’s conversion made it 28-0 and there was still time for Portia Woodman-Wickliffe to leave the French defence for dead with a typically powerful run to the line

Results

Pool A: Japan 5-24 France; New Zealand 48-0 Papua New Guinea; Japan 55-0 Papua New Guinea; New Zealand 29-14 France; France 41-7 Papua New Guinea; New Zealand 27-12 Japan

Pool B: Great Britain 17-5 Fiji; United States 14-12 Canada; Great Britain 19-5 Canada; United States 14-17 Fiji; Fiji 34-7 Canada; United States 12-10 Great Britain

Pool C: Ireland 14-12 Spain; Australia 28-12 Brazil; Ireland 26-12 Brazil; Australia 46-0 Spain; Spain 5-31 Brazil; Australia 43-7 Ireland

Quarter-Final: Great Britain 5-10 United States; Australia 5-10 France; Fiji 12-26 Ireland; New Zealand 33-0 Japan

9th-12th Place Semi-Finals: Canada 27-10 Spain; Brazil 41-0 Papua New Guinea

5th-8th Place Semi Final: Great Britain 0-19 Australia; Fiji 40-7 Japan

Semi-Finals: United States 7-20 France; Ireland 0-41 New Zealand

11th Place: Spain 29-0 Papua New Guinea

9th Place: Canada 24-21 Brazil

7th Place: Great Britain 21-5 Japan

5th Place: Australia 36-12 Fiji

3rd Place: United States 12-5 Ireland

Final: France 0-35 New Zealand

Statistical note

This was only the second time that two pool winners failed to reach the semi-finals of a World Series tournament. A complete list of pool winners who lost their subsequent quarter-final is:

Russia

Dubai

2012

USA

Amsterdam

2013

England

Dubai

2014

England

Atlanta

2015

Australia

Langford

Langford

2015

2015

Canada

Fiji

Dubai

2015

France

Sao Paulo

2016

USA

Atlanta

2016

Canada

Langford

2016

Canada

Dubai

2016

Russia

Sydney

2017

New Zealand

Dubai

2017

Fiji

Kitakyushu

2018

Australia

Glendale

2018

England

Dubai

2018

Australia

Biarritz

2019

France

Dubai

2019

France

Seville

2022

France

Toulouse

2022

Ireland

Dubai

2022

France

Cape Town

2023

Great Britain

Sydney

Sydney

2023

2023

Australia