New Zealand women too strong
Defending champions New Zealand produced a sublime display of attacking rugby to beat first-time finalists France 29-0 yesterday to become the first nation to win back-to-back Rugby World Cup Sevens titles.
The crowd at AT&T Park in San Francisco were then treated to the Black Ferns Sevens’ spine-tingling haka in celebration of a fifth title in as many sevens events after success at the Commonwealth Games and the final three rounds of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
New Zealand, who had ended the hopes of host nation USA in the semi-finals, enjoyed the perfect start when Michaela Blyde raced away for her seventh try of the tournament after some good work by Tyla Nathan-Wong. Their second try came midway through the first half after they turned defence into attack from deep in their own half with a charging run from captain Sarah Goss and calmness from her team mates to recycle the ball and create the space for Portia Woodman to run in her sixth try in 2018 and 18th in RWC Sevens history.
France were unable to find a way through the resolute New Zealand defence and it was left to Blyde to score two quick-fire tries to put the finishing touch on their 27th consecutive victory and pull clear of USA speedster Naya Tapper in the race for the Top Try Scorer award.
Goss, one of four players to be part of New Zealand’s two RWC Sevens successes, said: “It doesn’t get any better. I’m so grateful to be here and for a performance like that and for Michaela Blyde to stand up like that. It’s an amazing day. France are a quality team and for them not to score against us is a proud effort from the sisters.”
Goss received the UL Mark of Excellence award before lifting the coveted trophy, while France’s Anne Cecile Ciofani was named the TUDOR Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Tournament accolade after impressing in her first RWC Sevens and scoring the lastgasp winning try against Australia in the semi-finals.