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Roderick Solo of New Zealand scoring a try during the 2023 Sydney Sevens quarterfinal match against Samoa at Allianz Stadium.
Black Ferns Sevens in two wins for the second World Series in a week.
The New Zealand women’s team defeated Japan 33-0 in the quarterfinals of the Sydney Sevens tournament on Saturday night.
Despite Stacey Fluhler being yellow-carded for catching a player in the air early in the first half, NZ relied on Michaela Blyde, Jorja Miller and Fluhler back in the first game.
Miller got her second in the second half before veteran Portia Woodman-Wickliffe left the bench to highlight the dominance of the title favourite.
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New Zealand won the women’s crown at home in Hamilton the previous day and progressed through the pool stage with a perfect record.
They beat Japan 27-10 on Saturday when the two sides clashed in pool play this afternoon, following a 48-0 win over Papua New Guinea and a 29-14 victory against France on Friday.
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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand makes the breaks during their quarter-final win over Japan.
The Black Ferns will face Ireland in the semi-finals after beating Fiji 26-12, with the other four facing the United States and France on Sunday, knocking the latter hosts out of the tournament.
All seven Blacks also made the final four against Samoa, winning 12-0.
Samoa had early Faafoi Falaniko yellow-carded, but on the field with the game still scoreless, as a solo run by Roderick Solo on the right side became the only points of the first half.
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black sealed the win with NZ’s second try in the last minute.
They will face South Africa in Sunday’s semifinal after the same side survived two players showing yellow cards to beat them 16-14 in pool play.
HEAVEN PLAYS
Payton Spencer, son of former All Black Carlos Spencer, scored a double for the All Seven Blacks.
After a tight start, where South Africa had plenty of the ball but couldn’t find a way through the New Zealand defence, it was the All Blacks who hit the line first in the fifth minute with a Joe Weber pass.
South Africa had a scrum inside New Zealand territory just as the half-time hooter sounded. The ball was moved to the right where the Kiwi defense was weaker and Shilton van Wyk ran to score. With both meetings converted, the score was 7-7 at the break.
South Africa’s Jaiden Baron was sent to the bin early in the second half and within a minute New Zealand made their tally count as Roderick Solo took a high kick from Weber and tried to line up just in front of him.
But Zain Davids intercepted South Africa’s second attempt to escape.
Impi Visser was also shown a yellow card in the second half for a willful tackle, but this time the New Zealand capital could not have an extra man and with no seconds left on the clock Ricardo Duartttee was awarded a penalty to win.