Sydney 7s Turns All Black: New Zealand Clinch Men, Women Cups Double
3rd February 2019
Winners shoot to the top of the HSBC World Series standings after 21-5 and 34-10 victories in the finals against USA and Australia in that sequence
- The All Blacks Sevens claimed their second title in the fourth leg of the season, comfortably beating the USA 21-5 in the men's final
- Earlier, the Black Ferns Sevens stamped their dominance in the women's competition when they beat arch-rivals Australia 34-10 in the final to extend their record 48-match unbeaten run
- World Rugby women's sevens player of the year Michaela Blyde scored a hat-trick while Stacey Waaka put away two tries
SYDNEY, Australia- New Zealand made it a double victory in the Rugby Sevens in Sydney on Sunday, winning both the men's and the women's tournaments to top the overall standings.
The All Blacks Sevens claimed their second title in the fourth leg of the season, comfortably beating the USA 21-5 in the men's final.
Earlier, the Black Ferns Sevens stamped their dominance in the women's competition when they beat arch-rivals Australia 34-10 in the final to extend their record 48-match unbeaten run.
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The Americans were looking to win their first men's gold medal this season after three silvers in the first three rounds, but were only able to score one try against the injury-hit Kiwis' three.
Two tries from Regan Ware and Sam Dickson -- later awarded player of the final -- took New Zealand to a 14-0 lead at half-time, with Tone Ng Shiu adding a third just after the break.
The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard through Brett Thompson, but they were not able to overcome the deficit as New Zealand comfortably hung on for the victory.
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England secured third place after defeating Fiji 19-17.
The All Blacks Sevens' win means they are now joint leaders of the World Series standings with the USA on 76 points with six rounds to go.
The women were just as commanding in their final, with their win a sweet revenge after they were crushed 31-0 by the Australians in the Sydney final last year.
World Rugby women's sevens player of the year Michaela Blyde scored a hat-trick while Stacey Waaka put away two tries.
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Australia suffered a blow in the first-half when skipper Sharni Williams was yellow-carded, leaving the Kiwis to take advantage of their superior numbers and go into the break 17-5 after two tries.
Despite the loss, Australia's women climbed to joint-third on the overall standings behind New Zealand, the USA and Canada.
SYDNEY 7s RESULTS
Main Cup
Quarter-finals
Fiji 22 Australia 17
New Zealand 28 France 5
South Africa 5 England 26
USA 38 Spain 10
Semi-finals
Fiji 14 New Zealand 36
England 7 USA 14
Play-off 3-4
Fiji 17 England 19
Final
New Zealand 21 USA 5
Challenge Trophy
Quarter-finals
Japan 31 Tonga 19
Wales 19 Kenya 14
Argentina 36 Samoa 12
Canada 35 Scotland 21
Semi-finals
Japan 19 Wales 17
Argentina 24 Canada 19
Final
Japan 7 Argentina 10
Standings after four rounds: 1: New Zealand, USA 76 points. 3: Fiji 72. 4: South Africa 57. 5: England 55. 6: Australia 47. 7: Scotland 34. 8: Spain 32. 9: Argentina 31. 10: Samoa 30.