HSBC SVNS: Impressive Australia and New Zealand dominate day two in Perth

Hosts Australia will take on Canada in the last four on Australia Day, after recording convincing wins over France and Japan on day two in front of their home fans in Perth.

Les Bleues, meanwhile, with third place finishes to their name in Dubai and Cape Town, managed what their male counterparts could not as they booked a third semi-final place in as many stops on this year’s HSBC SVNS tour despite that early setback.

They will face New Zealand, who cruised past China in their quarter-final after putting 50 on the board against Japan in their final pool match.

France pick themselves up from Australia defeat to reach last four

France recovered from a thumping error-strewn pool match defeat against Australia earlier in the day to book a semi-final place with an efficient 19-7 win over USA. 

Anne-Cecile Ciofani scored twice – taking her HSBC Sevens Series total to 10 this year – and Alycia Chrystiaens added one more as Les Bleues maintained their run to the last four of every tournament to date.

Ariana Ramsey responded for USA with her fifth touchdown in Perth, with the prolific Nia Toliver conspicuously kept on the bench throughout.

Brake breaks Perth duck Black Ferns Sevens march on

New Zealand haven’t lost a Cup quarter-final since Perth last year – and never really looked like doing so against China in Perth, as Michaela Brake scored her first try since rejoining the Black Ferns’ Sevens in Perth after taking a break from the game to get married. 

She now sits just eight tries behind overall record holder Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

Kelsey Teneti scored twice, while Jazmin Felix-Hotham and Jorja Miller added one each, as New Zealand eased to a 29-0 victory.

It was, by some distance, their lowest match total over the weekend so far in Perth. They had earlier run in nine tries to beat Japan 53-5 to finish the pool phase with 149 points, while conceding 12 in three outings. 

Five more for Levi as hosts cruise into last four

Anything New Zealand could do in the quarter-finals, their great rivals Australia showed they could do better, as they eased to a 35-0 win over Japan.

After scoring a hat-trick in an emphatic 40-5 Pool C win over France earlier on day two, Maddison Levi added another two touchdowns to take her HSBC SVNS total for the season so far to 30 – with the Australia Day festivities still to play at HBF Park.

Faith Nathan, who had scored two against France, also scored, as did Charlotte Caslick and Mackenzie Davis.

Five-star Canada take last semi-final spot

Canada ended a run of three quarter-final defeats in the HSBC SVNS with a 27-5 win over Brazil.

Mahalia Robinson, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Olivia Apps, Florence Symonds and Carmen Izyk all got their names on the scoreboard for the Olympic silver medalists, while Thalia Costa scored Brazil’s consolation. 

It was her third try of the day, after her double helped consign Ireland to a 26-5 defeat in the pool phase. 

Earlier, USA and Canada had served up an enthralling match of to-and-fro, full of drama and tension. A second-half double for Piper Logan and a race-away Carissa Norsten score at the death decided the result 21-7 in Canada’s favour. 

2024 champions Ireland to face Spain for 11th place

Last year’s Perth champions Ireland – fielding a much changed and much more inexperienced side from the one that lifted the trophy in 2024 – will face Spain for 11th place on Sunday, after losing their ninth-place play-off against Fiji 24-7.

Spain had earlier lost 14-0 against China in their final pool match.

In the ninth-place final Fiji, will take on Great Britain for a second time in Perth, after Gisele Mather’s charges beat Spain 21-5, after a scoreless second half, thanks to a first-half brace from Lauren Torley and another score for Ellie Boatman – her fourth in Perth and 18th on the HSBC SVNS series so far.

The two ninth-place play-off finalists had met earlier on the second day, with Great Britain easing to a 27-14 win, their first of the weekend in Australia.