Rugby Sevens: New Zealand Sevens sides continue impressive form in Hong Kong, advance to semifinals with Australia

New Zealand's Sevens sides have put themselves in prime position to defend their Hong Kong Sevens titles, with both the men and women advancing to Sunday evenings semifinals (NZ time).  

The All Blacks Sevens finished top of pool B after beating the USA 12-7 in their final pool match on Saturday afternoon with tries to Tone Ng Shiu and rising star Xavier Tito-Harris.  

The Kiwi men rode that momentum into their quarterfinal with Fiji, scoring in the opening minute before the Olympic gold medalists struck back to take a 12-7 lead into the break.  

However, that didn't knock the confidence of the New Zealand, who kept their opponents scoreless after the break, as Tone Ng Shiu and Xavier Tito-Harris dotted down in back-to-back games to secure the 19-12 victory and a semifinal berth.  

Meanwhile, after cruising past both Great Britain and Brazil on day one, the Black Ferns Sevens started day two with a shock loss to France 26-21 in their final group game.   

The Ferns were leading 21-12 with six minutes remaining thanks to a first half double for Michaela Blyde and a second half score for Stacey Waaka, however, France quickly hit back with two tries in two minutes to cut the deficit to 21-19.  

France's Séraphine Okemba then completed the thrilling comeback with a game-winning try as time expired to hand the NZ Women their first loss of the tournament.   

But as they have so often, the Black Ferns quickly recovered from their pool stage slip to smash Canada 26-5 in their quarterfinal and maintain hope of defending their Hong Kong title.  

Canada came in with a slim chance, having not beaten New Zealand in a knockout game in over nine years, and were immediately put to the sword in the first half.   

A double from Shiray Kaka and another from Jorja Miller saw the Kiwis lead 21-0 at the break.   

Canada's Shalaya Valenzuela finally ended the whitewash, but there was no time left to mount a comeback, especially after Mahina Paul pushed New Zealand’s score to 26 moments later.  

Both the NZ men and women are due to face Australia in their respective semifinals.   

The games are not only crucial in the context of the Hong Kong tournament, but the overall Sevens standings as well, with both Aussie sides just ahead of their Kiwi rivals.    

All Blacks Sevens 12 (Ng Shiu & Tito-Harris tries; Knewstubb conversion) USA 7 (Schroeder try; Hughes conversion)

All Blacks Sevens 19 (Ware, Ng Shiu & Tito-Harris tries; Cook-Savage 2 conversions) Fiji 12 (Loganimasi & Nasova tries; Sauturaga conversion)

Black Ferns Sevens 21 (Blyde 2 & Waaka tries; King 2 & Pouri-Lane conversions) France 26 (Okemba 2, Ulutule & Jacquet tries; Ulutule 3 conversions)

Black Ferns Sevens 26 (Kaka 2, Miller & Paul tries; King 3 conversions) Canada 5 (Valenzuela try)

New Zealand's Sevens sides have put themselves in prime position to defend their Hong Kong Sevens titles, with both the men and women advancing to Sunday evenings semifinals (NZ time).  

The All Blacks Sevens finished top of pool B after beating the USA 12-7 in their final pool match on Saturday afternoon with tries to Tone Ng Shiu and rising star Xavier Tito-Harris.  

The Kiwi men rode that momentum into their quarterfinal with Fiji, scoring in the opening minute before the Olympic gold medalists struck back to take a 12-7 lead into the break.  

However, that didn't knock the confidence of the New Zealand, who kept their opponents scoreless after the break, as Tone Ng Shiu and Xavier Tito-Harris dotted down in back-to-back games to secure the 19-12 victory and a semifinal berth.  

Meanwhile, after cruising past both Great Britain and Brazil on day one, the Black Ferns Sevens started day two with a shock loss to France 26-21 in their final group game.   

The Ferns were leading 21-12 with six minutes remaining thanks to a first half double for Michaela Blyde and a second half score for Stacey Waaka, however, France quickly hit back with two tries in two minutes to cut the deficit to 21-19.  

France's Séraphine Okemba then completed the thrilling comeback with a game-winning try as time expired to hand the NZ Women their first loss of the tournament.   

But as they have so often, the Black Ferns quickly recovered from their pool stage slip to smash Canada 26-5 in their quarterfinal and maintain hope of defending their Hong Kong title.  

Canada came in with a slim chance, having not beaten New Zealand in a knockout game in over nine years, and were immediately put to the sword in the first half.   

A double from Shiray Kaka and another from Jorja Miller saw the Kiwis lead 21-0 at the break.   

Canada's Shalaya Valenzuela finally ended the whitewash, but there was no time left to mount a comeback, especially after Mahina Paul pushed New Zealand’s score to 26 moments later.  

Both the NZ men and women are due to face Australia in their respective semifinals.   

The games are not only crucial in the context of the Hong Kong tournament, but the overall Sevens standings as well, with both Aussie sides just ahead of their Kiwi rivals.    

All Blacks Sevens 12 (Ng Shiu & Tito-Harris tries; Knewstubb conversion) USA 7 (Schroeder try; Hughes conversion)

All Blacks Sevens 19 (Ware, Ng Shiu & Tito-Harris tries; Cook-Savage 2 conversions) Fiji 12 (Loganimasi & Nasova tries; Sauturaga conversion)

Black Ferns Sevens 21 (Blyde 2 & Waaka tries; King 2 & Pouri-Lane conversions) France 26 (Okemba 2, Ulutule & Jacquet tries; Ulutule 3 conversions)

Black Ferns Sevens 26 (Kaka 2, Miller & Paul tries; King 3 conversions) Canada 5 (Valenzuela try)

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