HSBC SVNS: Miller lights up women's final as New Zealand beat Australia in Hong Kong

New Zealand head to the Singapore tournament next weekend with an eight-point lead at the top of the SVNS standings after winning a captivating final against rivals Australia 26-19 at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium.

FINAL

Jorja Miller produced two moments of magic to make it three Hong Kong titles in a row for the Black Ferns Sevens. She had her team-mates to thank for not only surviving but scoring during her time in the sin bin for a tip tackle.

Tia Hinds had sent Maddison Levi racing to score with a marvellous looping pass out to the left before New Zealand captain Sarah Hirini was rewarded for being up supporting Risi Pouri-Lane as she ran in under the posts.

But three players in black were left gasping as the trio could not halt the imperious Levi leaping through their challenges to make it 12-all at the interval.

Miller had impressed on days one and two in Hong Kong but kept her best for the final, twice spying the gap, twice having the legs to pierce the young Aussie team's defence. Mackenzie Davis scored late in the match for Australia.

"We knew we had to come out for finals footie and I’m so proud of the group," said an ecstatic Miller. "We love Hong Kong and the history of it."

3rd PLACE PLAYOFF

Canada claimed their first podium place since Vancouver SVNS last season by beating France 21-17 in a third-place playoff cracker. Hawa Tounkara scored for France but her crossfield pass was intercepted by Shaleya Valenzuela to tie it at 7-7. Skipper Olivia Apps picked up the back of the scrum to strike for Canada before Alycia Christiaens nabbed her fourth of the weekend.

France moved 17-14 ahead when Lou Noel offloaded under pressure from Apps to Valentine Lothoz to score, but Sabrina Poulin had the final say, outpacing Tounkara to take bronze and 16 SVNS series points.

"We just wanted to put on a show after that New Zealand game," said Canada forward Carissa Norsten. "It's an honour to get to play here."

SEMI-FINALS

Seven tries without response propelled New Zealand to the final as Canada were blown away by a dominant Black Ferns Sevens display. Jazmin Felix-Hotham delivered a brace of tries but much of New Zealand's play came from Jorja Miller's all-round ability. She jackalled, ripped and ran at Canada, and scored a try too.

"We've been trying to find our flow after Vancouver," said Miller, who may feature in the XVs Women's World Cup in England this summer. "Canada are a tough team and we knew we'd need to bring our 'A' game."

Australia claimed their place in the showpiece match on Sunday with a 28-5 win over France in which Maddison Levi scored a hat-trick and set a new Hong Kong record of 12 tries in a single tournament. Wily Lea Trollier gave France hope when they trailed 14-0. Faced down by three in yellow after a ruck, she quickly saw there was no way up the short side and cut round the pack of bodies on the turf to find a gap to score. Bridget Clarke quelled the rebellion before Levi's third score.

5th PLACE PLAYOFF

Fiji earned 12 series points to move above Great Britain into seventh place overall thanks to a 19-7 win over a tired USA outfit in the fifth-place playoff. The Americans looked unusually leaden-footed as Ilisapeci Delaiwau scored and, although Ariana Ramsey injected speed - and hope - to touch down for USA, it wasn't long before Seseniele Donu picked up Kelerayani Luvu's overhead throw to make it 14-7. Lovu's visionary looping pass helped create the final score, a Rogosau Adimereani try.

7th PLACE PLAYOFF

Japan turned in a six-try display to beat Brazil 32-14, claim seventh place in Hong Kong and guarantee they will be in the top eight for the finals weekend in Los Angeles. Brazil scarcely showed in the Japan half in the first period as the smiling attacker Honoka Tsutsumi scored two to establish a 20-0 lead at the break. Hana Nagata continued the narrative before Yasmim Soares broke Brazil's duck and the teams traded one more score apiece. A deserved win for ever-improving Japan.

9th PLACE PLAYOFF

Spain had been limited to the 11th place playoff in the four previous round of the HSBC SVNS, so their match against China to grab ninth spot represented progress. China prevailed 12-7 but had to respond to a Silvia Morales try and two late yellow cards to do so. Their captain Wang Wanyu added to a Chen Ziying score for the decisive try.

11th PLACE PLAYOFF

Things did not start well for Great Britain in their playoff against Ireland. Lauren Torley was sin-binned for a deliberate knockdown and while she was off Hannah Clarke put the Irish ahead. But Grace Crompton inspired a big swing in the play, scoring a hat-trick. For all that, the pick of the scores was Isla Norman-Bell's second where she kicked on with her right, then booted the ball twice with her left and collected to score. Great Britain won 32-5.