France feel full force of the double champions
DEFENDING champions New Zealand produced a sublime display of attacking rugby to beat first-time finalists France 29-0 to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup Sevens titles.
It was their fifth title in as many Sevens events after success at the Commonwealth Games and the final three rounds of the World Series.
Having been defeated by Ireland in their opening game of the tournament and knocked out of the Championship contest, England went on to win the Challenge final 29-5 over Japan after seeing off Mexico 59-0 and China 38-0 en route to the final.
Holly Aitchison, Abbie Brown, Deborah Fleming and Sarah McKenna scored for England in the final to ensure ninth-place.
“I’m immensely proud of how the girls picked themselves up and bounced back after their loss to Ireland at the beginning of this tournament,” said England Women Sevens head coach James Bailey.
“They delivered three really good performances and to get through three games and only concede five points shows some great skill and is really promising.
“Naturally we all want to see results but I truly believe that we are building something special as a group, however these things take time. There’s lots of promise, we know we’ve got a lot of hard work to do but we’re prepared to continue putting that work in to achieve what we believe this team is capable of.”
In the showpiece event, New Zealand, who had ended the hopes of host nation USA in the semifinals, enjoyed the perfect start when Michaela Blyde raced away for her seventh try of the tournament. Portia Woodman then ran in her sixth try in 2018 and 18th in RWC Sevens history.
Tyla Nathan-Wong crossed for a third try to make it 15-0 at half-time with France 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 flyer Naya Tapper in the race for the top try scorer award on nine.
Sarah 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.
“We had one goal and that was to take the trophy back and I can’t wait to go home and show it to the New Zealand public.”
World series champions Australia bounced back from their last-gasp loss to France in the semi-finals to claim the bronze medal with a 24-14 victory over USA. Evania Pelite and Cassie Staples gave Australia the perfect start but two tries from Naya Tapper kept the hosts in the hunt to repeat their bronze of Moscow 2013.
Ellia Green also scored twice for Australia, one of them by collecting a sublime cross-field kick from Charlotte Caslick before diving over.
Spain claimed fifth place with a narrow 12-7 win over Ireland, who were already guaranteed their best-ever finish in RWC Sevens history after beating Russia, with 2013 runners-up Canada having to settle for seventh after beating the same opponents.