NZ to face Irish in quarters
A quarterfinal clash with Ireland awaits New Zealand, at the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series event in the United States.
Pool B wins over the host nation, China and England kept New Zealand’s amazing record at this level intact. They have now won 21 world series matches in succession, as part of a run of 30 games in all competitions.
They were out of the blocks early in Glendale, Colorado, with Ruby Tui scoring two of the four tries the team produced in the first four minutes of their opening clash with China. Tui kept it up in game two, against England, to finish New Zealand’s second match with five tries already to her name.
Michaela Blyde was proving a similar handful for the defence, getting the team on the board in their eventual 28-7 win over England. Tui, Blyde, Sarah Goss, Kelly Brazier and Shakira Baker were then all on the scoresheet as the USA were beaten 35-12 in the final pool match.
That set up a quarterfinal clash with Ireland, whose sole victory had come 59-7 over Fiji. They lost 24-12 and 21-12 in their subsequent clashes with France and Canada. Canada topped Pool C, while Australia were the Pool A victors.
The full quarterfinal lineup is New Zealand against Ireland, with the winner to play the winner of Canada against Russia. On the other side of the draw England meet France and Australia play the United States.
New Zealand were first up at 5.30am today.