Down 12-7 at halftime, it was Blyde’s 10th try of the tournament, following a quick tap from Jorja Miller that nudged New Zealand ahead of the lion-hearted Canadians.
Unfathomably after that, New Zealand struggled, conceding two penalties and backheeling towards their posts.
With a minute remaining, Sarah Hirini summoned the stamina for a gut-busting 45-metre burst. Stacey Waaka finished the job in the corner and crushed Canada’s improbable prospects of an upset.
New Zealand regained the restart, and the future kicked it out. Miller booting the ball into the grandstand seems symbolic.
Earlier, Blyde busted right away and was tackled by Charity Williams. New Zealand looked ominous and a left foot swerve and 55-metre dash by Risi Pouri-Lane was the first blow.
Canada withstood brutal defense bravely and patiently working the ball across their goal line to Charity Williams who sprinted to the 22. Williams was caught by Portia Woodman-Wickliffe who made meek head contact. As she was in Rio, Woodman-Wickliffe was yellow-carded.
Canada struck back when Olivia Apps drew in two defenders and offloaded in one hand to an unmarked Chloe Daniels. Canada took the lead to halftime when Hirini threw an intercept to Alysha Corrigan.
Canada only won 20 of 43 matches in the SVNS season but ended a 27-game losing streak against New Zealand with victory in the pool stage of the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid.
Canada lost their first match of the Olympics to New Zealand 33-7. There were only three survivors from Tokyo 2020 (Charity Williams, Olivia Apps and Keyara Wardley) yet they rallied to shock a formable France and Australia in the last eight.
A 24-12 victory over the USA in the semi-final guaranteed New Zealand its first medal in Paris
New Zealand made a poor start with Miller throwing a wayward pass, conceding a turnover, and then being fended off by Alev Kelter for the American's first try.
New Zealand regrouped and a Hirini pass to Waaka enabled Waaka to bounce off the right foot and stride clear at halfway.
New Zealand amplified their defensive intensity in the second half with Thressa Setefano injuring her arm in a brutal shot on the much-hyped lIona Maher. Miller then poached a turnover after Blyde and Pouri-Lane dished out similar punishment. From an ensuing scrum, Waaka wouldn’t be stopped.
Possession mounted and the attack started to flow. The USA became fatigued and started falling off tackles. Twice Blyde overpowered her opposite in typically startling tries.
There was a possibility Australia could have held all three major titles after winning the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup in 2022. Instead, the Aussies imploded spectacularly against Canada.
Ahead 12-0 and enjoying an avalanche of possession, there was a dramatic momentum shift before halftime when Williams won a turnover and dashed from her own 22.
Canada bullied Australia after the interval and took the lead in the tenth minute with an Asia Hogan-Rochester try, converted by the crafty Apps.
Inexplicably Teegan Levi dropped a routine pass inside the 22 and Canada’s Piper Logan ferreted clear from a scrum and ironically carried Levi with her over the try line.
Madison Levi, scorer of a record 14 Olympic tries, fumbled the restart and Canada confirmed their place in the Olympic final.
In improving their Olympic record to 17-1, New Zealand scored a record number of points 212.
Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano, King and Hirini join Dame Lisa Carrington, Ian Ferguson, Paul MacDonald, Peter Snell, Hamish Bond, Dame Valerie Adams, Danyon Loader, Sir Mark Todd, Simon Dickie, Mahé Drysdale, Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Barbara Kendall, Blyth Tait, Andrew Nicholson and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott as winners of three or more Olympic medals.
Blyde, Waaka, Pouri-Lane, and Alena Saili were part of the Tokyo 2020 winning squad.
New Zealand Sevens were officially launched in 2000. They have played in 80 tournaments, winning 50 and finishing runners-up 14 times.
Attendance records for women’s rugby are being smashed quicker than a Blyde runaway these days. At the 2022 Rugby World Cup, 42,579 spectators watched the Black Ferns beat England 34-31 in the final. Less than six months later 58,498 watched England beat France 38-33 at Twickenham. At these Olympics, more than 60,000 fans packed into Stade de France for all three days. In September the Black Ferns and England play a WXV 1 Test at Twickenham. With a capacity of 75,000, there is a high chance the game will sell out and break the record once again.
New Zealanders To Defend An Olympic Title
1960-1964: Peter Snell - Track & Field, 800m
1984:1988: Ian Ferguson & Paul McDonald, - Canoeing, K-2 500m
1984-1988: Mark Todd, Equstiran, Individual Eventing
2004-2008: Caroline & Georgina Evers-Swindell – Rowing, Double Sculls
2008-2012: Dame Valerie Adams – Track & Field, Shot Put
2012-2016: Mahé Drysdale – Rowing, Single Sculls
2012-2016: Hamish Murray & Eric Bond - Rowing, Coxless Pair
2012-2020: Dame Lisa Carrington – Canoeing K-1 200m (2012-20), K-2 500m (2016-20)
2020-2024: New Zealand Women's Sevens