PARIS: Defending champions New Zealand will face the United States in the Olympic sevens semi-final, but France’s hopes of a double rugby gold were dashed after defeat by Canada at the Stade de France on Monday.
Another partisan, a near sell-out crowd of 66,000 packed the Stade de France primarily to watch Team France in their mission to emulate Antoine Dupont and the men’s team in winning gold.
But there was disappointment as the Canadians ran out 19-14 winners to set up a semi-final against Australia.
The Aussies outclassed Ireland 40-7 in their quarter, with Maddison Levi scoring a hat-trick to set a new women’s Olympic record of 11 tries to beat Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s previous best of 10 from 10 at Rio 2016.
Piper Logan opened the scoring for Canada against France, trying to break out of the scrum for a fine individual try, Chloe Daniels converted.
But the home side, roared by the crowd, equalized on the half-time whistle, Ian Jason trying to sprint away.
Yolaine Yengo converted it and her own try to take the lead after Lili Dezou’s brilliant double save.
But Logan pounced for her second, identikit try, captain Olivia Apps converting to make it 14 points apiece with three minutes to play.
Daniels dashed France’s hopes when she knocked down an unguarded blindside pass on Canada’s third attempt.
New Zealand, gold medalists at the 2021 Covid-postponed Tokyo Games, ran out 55-5 winners over China and will play the USA, 17-7 over Britain.
They were on the scoreboard within 30 seconds, veteran Sarah Hirini finishing off Theresa Setefano’s break.
But China roared back, Yang Feifei dragged along the line and gestured. With Hirini yellow carded for a high tackle, the Chinese capitalized on their numerical advantage as Hu Yu raced past the stretched defense for a try.
There was no panic from New Zealand, who scored eight tries without reply.
Five points apiece for Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Michaela Blyde and world rugby legend Woodman-Wickliffe in her third and final Olympics made it 24-5 at half-time.
Blyde stepped up for her seventh try of the tournament early in the second period, quickly followed by four more from Felix-Hotham, Mahiny Paul (2) and Hirini in what turned out to be a procession.
New Zealand’s trans-Tasman rivals Australia, winners at the 2016 Rio Games, got off to a good start against Ireland.
Levi scored a first-half hat-trick in what was a repeat of the final between the two sides on Monday, the Australians winning 19-14.
Faith Nathan made it 26-0 at half-time before Isabella Nasser and Bienne Terita added two more tries either side of Ireland’s consolation from Stacey Flood.
Britain took the lead in their quarter through Ellie Boatman, the US responded through Naya Tapper after a strong break from TikTok star Ilona Maher.
Maher looked like she might be in the second half, but Jasmine Joyce’s excellent performance erased her.
Kristi Kirche did get the American double early in the second half, followed by Sammy Sullivan, who ended Britain’s medal hopes and handed the USA a place in the last four for the first time.
Brazil’s memorable 28-22 victory over Fiji in the play-offs for the lower places saw them take bronze at the Tokyo Games. Raquel Kochhann scored four tries, including an injury-time winner, with a scrum and sprint from her own line, which saw her progress to the ninth-placed play-off against Japan.
