New Zealand fluffed two restarts and almost lost Sarah Hirini for the tournament in an otherwise emphatic win.
Hirini scored a try in the opening minute. New Zealand didn’t secure the restart and Michaela Blyde was forced to thwart a promising Chinese surge. At the next ruck, Hirini and a Chinese attacker clashed heads with ‘mitigation’ the only factor saving the co-captain from a red card.
With a numerical advantage from Hirini’s yellow, China capitalised with a try from a scrum to Xinrong Dou.
China kicked deep from the restart and Jorja Miller recovered. She ran across the field, drew in two defenders and distributed basketball style to Jazmin Felix-Hotham who had clear grass in front.
Miller then poached a turnover with support from Theresa Setefano to send Michaela Blyde free on the left wing. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe escaped on the opposite side and the contest was over at halftime with New Zealand enjoying a 24-5 lead.
Blyde opened the scoring in the second half with a Risi Pouri-Lane jump step opening space Blyde turned crushing defender with a power tackle that sent China reeling 20 metres backward. Felix-Hotham slithered over after the turnover, releasing the ball correctly on the ground after initially being tackled.
Hirini returned from the sin bin with a second try and Mahina Paul was a bull of energy from the bench with two sizzling finishers.
China – the last qualifier for Paris 2024 via the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in June – reached the quarter-finals for the second time.
USA awaits in the semifinals. USA conceded the first try in their 17-7 win over Great Britain but proved watertight after that. The American's tries were scored by Sammy Sullivan, Kristi Kirshe and Naya Tapper (205 SVNS matches, 129 tries). Alive Kelter (245 SVNS matches, 1014 points) and Ilona Maher (154 SVNS matches, 64 tries) are other major threats to New Zealand. USA has won two SVNS titles in France (2019) and Malaga (2022).
On the opposite side of the draw, tournament hosts France were stunned 19-14 by Canada. France had scored 106 points and 16 tries across the pool play but looked anxious against the tough-tackling Canadians throwing panic passes and making uncharacteristic errors. With 57 seconds remaining Chloe Daniels spotted a gap on the short side and galloped 20 metres clear. Earlier, Piper Logan had scored two tries for Canada. Yolaine Yengo and Ian Jason scored tries for France.
Australia demolished Ireland 40-7 with three tries in each half. Maddison Levi scored the first three tries as the Aussie cruised against the SVNS Perth champions.
Across the pool stage, New Zealand scored the most points (114) and tries (18). New Zealand, the only team to have won all nine of their pool matches in Olympics history, thrashed Fiji 38-7 to conclude Pool A.
Unlike the Tokyo semifinal which stretched into extra time, Fiji was little challenge for New Zealand. Fiji was outscored 29-95 across three Pool games. New Zealand scored three tries in each half leading 21-0 at halftime. Miller, Felix-Hotham, Stacey Waaka (2), Blyde and Manaia Paul scored tries with Pouri-Lane adding four conversions.
Australia did not receive a yellow card across Rio 2016 and Tokyo 202. They have had three at Paris 2024 with Tia Hinds joining day one recipients Kaitlin Shave and Teagan Levi. Maddison Levi has caught fire though, setting a new record for Australia at a single Olympic Games with 11 tries, surpassing the seven tries scored by Olympic champions Charlotte Caslick and Emma Tonegato at Rio 2016.
A total of 117 tries and 729 points were scored in the pool stage of Paris 2024. This is the most ever in the first 18 matches of an Olympic Games, surpassing the record of 106 tries and 657 points set at Rio 2016.
New attendance records for women’s rugby are being smashed at these Olympics with 66,000 fans packing the Stade de France for the first day alone. The previous world record for the largest women's rugby crowd was in the 2023 Six Nations when 58,498 watched England beat France 38-33 at Twickenham.
Finals
New Zealand v USA, 1:30 am
Canada v Australia, 2:00 am
Bronze Medal Final, 5:00 am
Gold Medal Final, 5:45 am