BLACK FERNS SEVENS, AUSTRALIA FACE OFF FOR WOMEN'S WORLD SERIES CROWN AT SINGAPORE

New Zealand will contest both the men's and women's finals at the Singapore world series tournament, with the Black Ferns Sevens pitted against archrivals Australia for the overall season crown.

Speedster Michael Blyde scored another try double, as the NZ women overpowered Fiji 33-22 in their semi-final to reach their fourth straight tournament final, after winning titles at Los Angeles, Vancouver and Hong Kong.

They scored four first-half tries to open up a 26-0 advantage, before Fiji finally responded. Blyde's second try made victory safe, before the Pacific team grabbed two consolation tries in the final minutes.

Australia overcame France 19-12, ensuring the two teams level atop the world series standings would meet in the final, with the winners taking overall honours.

After this event, the top eight teams will then contest a playoff format at Madrid next month.

Meanwhile, the All Black Sevens will face Ireland in the men's final, after dispatching Australia for the second time at this venue.

The Kiwis needed to overcome their trans-Tasman rivals in poolplay to reach the knockout stages and again had the wood on them at the semi-final stage, prevailing 28-12.

The Aussies scored first, but Kitiona Vai levelled the contest 7-7 at halftime, before his second try gave New Zealand a lead they would never concede. Fehi Fineanganofo extended their advantage, before Brady Rush put the result beyond doubt, with Andrew Knewstuff converting all four tries.

They also beat Ireland in poolplay, but while the Kiwis cannot catch Argentina at the head of the table, their opponents can still snatch the crown with victory, if the South Americans lose their fifth-place playoff against South Africa.

Black Ferns Sevens 33 (Blyde 2, Waaka, Miller, Pouri-Lane tries; Pouri-Lane 4 conversions) Fiji 22 (Delaiwau 2, Daveua, Lukuceva tries; Naimasi conversion)

All Blacks Sevens 28 (K Vai 2, Fineanganofo, Rush tries; Knewstubb 4 conversions) Australia 12 (Lawson, Roache tries; Roache conversion)

2024-05-05T06:51:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd