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Lars Hamer

A quirk in the draw at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Saturday saw New Zealand beat Brazil twice in a row to set up a Sunday semi-final against Canada, a repeat of last summer’s Paris Olympics gold medal match.
The Hong Kong draw has still, more logically, kept the Black Ferns on track to meet Australia in a final many hoped to see at Kai Tak Stadium on Sunday.
The New Zealanders saw off Brazil for the second time by 31-17, while Australia recorded a 35-5 win over USA and will face France in the last four.
“We know Canada is going to be a tough one,” said Mahina Paul, scorer of the Black Ferns’ fifth and final try of the match.
“We know Canada always show up when we play, but we talk a lot about just sticking to what we do and not worrying about every other team like that.”

Hours before they met in the last eight, New Zealand saw off the Brazilians 29-17 in the final Pool A fixture, a result that meant the South Americans qualified for the quarter-final as the second-best third-placed team.
“It was a bit of a weird one, really, especially with our ex-coach, Crystal Kaua, coaching Brazil too, so it’s always a bit of a love-hate,” Paul said.
Australia came into the Hong Kong Sevens with their most inexperienced squad in 10 years; their average age was 21.
The green-and-gold youngsters were seeking revenge on the United States after losing the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics and went about dismantling their opponents with ease.
Faith Nathan scored two tries within the first three minutes, and Tia Hinds converted both.
Maddison Levi then added the 190th try of her career before half-time and doubled her tally four minutes after teammate Kiiahla Duff crossed.
“We could never get over the Olympics; that was a very hard loss,” Nathan said. “We learned a lot, so I think coming out and beating USA was really good for us.
“We’re slowly finding our groove; we have a lot of young players who are absolutely killing it. It’s pretty awesome.”
Nathan said her side had not been thinking about a potential final with New Zealand, who are on the hunt for three Hong Kong titles in a row, and were just taking the tournament game by game.
“New Zealand, they’re honestly amazing,” she said. “They’re such a good group, and they’re honestly really good to play with.
“They bring out the energy in us and the physicality.”
The first women’s quarter-final of Saturday saw Canada keep their Sevens hopes alive with a hard-fought 26-17 win over Fiji.
“That victory was definitely a grind, a team effort. We really worked for it, and I think we wanted it more,” said Carissa Norsten, who scored two tries. “It was really good [to score the winning try].
“I have a great team backing me, which makes it easy.”
France eased to a 34-0 win over Japan, running in six tries in the last of the women’s quarter-finals.


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Hong Kong Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand set up women’s semi-final with Canada, Australia face France

New Zealand’s Risi Pouri-Lane outpaces her Brazilian opponents on day two of the Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Elson Li

Australia’s Maddison Levi (left) evades a USA tackle. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand star has extra special reason to enjoy tournament this year

Jazmin Felix-Hotham with her father, Nigel Hotham at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Jazmin Felix-Hotham (right), Theresa Setefano and their teammates are considered favourites. Photo: Sam Tsang

Successful Sevens can score for Hong Kong in the international arena

Fans on day two of the Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

A common complaint from fans at Kai Tak Stadium was the long waiting times for buying refreshments. Photo: May Tse

Sport

Hong Kong

Rugby

HK Sevens

A New Zealand v Australia final remains on the cards as both sides continue to flex their muscles


A New Zealand v Australia final remains on the cards as both sides continue to flex their muscles.


Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand set up women’s semi-final with Canada, Australia face France

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A New Zealand v Australia final remains on the cards as both sides continue to flex their muscles

A New Zealand v Australia final remains on the cards as both sides continue to flex their muscles