Canada won an epic quarter-final against USA at HSBC SVNS Vancouver as New Zealand romped to another win in pursuit of their title defence.
The defending champions scored six tries to beat Spain 36-0 while it was a much tighter affair for the host nation, squeezing past their neighbours by 12-10. France and Australia are also alive after beating Brazil and Fiji respectively in their semi-finals. In the 9th pace semi-finals, Japan beat South Africa and Ireland took victory over Great Britain.
Pool stages decided
New Zealand continued their rampant day one form as they scored seven tries in a 43-5 victory over Ireland to wrap up Pool A and deny the Perth champions the chance at a quarter-final. Instead it was Brazil, following up their upset over Ireland with a 17-12 win against South Africa in their last pool match, who took their spot in the quarters.
Both Australia and USA had already confirmed quarter-finals after day one, but locked 12-12 at full time in their Pool B decider, the top spot went down to extra-time. It was Australia’s Maddison Levi who scored the crucial golden point, scooping up a loose ball and going the full length of the field to score.
France made it three from three by defeating Great Britain 31-10 to top Pool C. Home nation Canada secured their spot with a 22-5 victory over Spain, but the Spanish still had enough points to make it to the quarter-final stage as one of the next-best, alongside Pool B’s Fiji.
USA v Canada
An epic battle between the North American countries ended 12-10 to the host nation, holding off a late fightback from the USA to clinch their semi-final spot.
In a game that saw three yellow cards, two for the USA and one for Canada, Florence Symonds broke the deadlock and was the only scorer in a tense first half, the Canadians lead 5-0 at the break.
In a strange set of events yellow cards led to tries for both sides - Ariana Ramsey scored after Alex Sedrick went off for the USA, and Krissy Scurfield did the same for Canada just after Asia Hogan-Rochester went to the bin. Ramsey would score a second, but Alev Kelter missed the crucial conversion in the final moments.
Canada will face now face the rampant New Zealand in Sunday’s semi-finals.
New Zealand v Spain
In another try-filled display, New Zealand overcame Spain and advanced to the semi-final stages by 36-0.
Despite a yellow card the defending champions kept Spain scoreless and scored six of their own to continue their title defence in Vancouver and maintain their hopes of a first gold medal of the season.
Having scored seven in the final pool game, it takes their total to 24 for the tournament.
France v Brazil
After an early try from Brazil, it was all France in this quarter-final, Joanna Grisez scoring a brace as the French took a 24-5 victory.
Brazil were the first on the scoresheet thanks to Aline Ribeiro’s try, but despite fine form in this tournament it was the French who then took control with two tries before the half-time whistle to take the lead.
With two more in the second it was procedural for the French, advancing to a thrilling semi-final clash with series leaders Australia.
Australia v Fiji
Australia booked their place in the semi-finals with an entertaining 35-19 win over Fiji.
The SVNS leaders powered into the game and scored a flurry of tries, Maddison Levi, Kaitlin Shave and Faith Nathan all scoring in a cruising first-half display. Heleina Young replied early in the second, but Australia scored two more to secure their spot in the semi-finals and with it a chance at redeeming their home loss in Perth.
