Two big wins for sevens team

New Zealand’s women’s sevens team are into the semi-finals of their Olympic competition, after barely breaking a sweat today.

First they beat the Russian ROC team 33-0. Then, by a quirk of the draw, they met the same opposition in their quarter-final a few hours later.

Second time round, New Zealand won 36-0 and now, aiming to improve on their silver medal finish in Rio five years ago, face Fiji their semi-final tomorrow. Fiji beat Rio gold medallists Australia 14-12.

New Zealand rattled on six tries in the quarter-final, to follow five in their earlier game.

Star flyer Portia Woodman scored two, with one apiece by Theresa Fitzpatrick, Gayle Broughton, Michaela Blyde and Ruby Tui. Three were converted.

Tui and Stacey Fluhler, with two each, and one for Woodman got the tries in the pool match.

In the other semi-final Britain play France.

New Zealand captain Sarahi Hirini was bubbling after the quarter-final. “I’m absolutely pumped to be in the semi-finals of the Olympics,” she said.

She said it was a bit different playing the same team twice within a few hours. “We were quite dominant in the first match, but there were still a few errors, so we were able to work on those. We’re quite confident at the moment the way we are going.”

Asked whether the players would view tomorrow as the chance to atone for losing the final in Rio, she said the team was focused on what’s happening now. “We’re just excited to be on the field at the Olympics. We have some players in our team who were in Rio and others who weren’t. That was a long time ago. It’s what happens here in Tokyo that counts.”