Champions New Zealand on course for quarter-finals after making 100% start with Canada, Australia, USA and France.
Defending champions New Zealand showed their class to make it two wins from two on day one of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong SVNS at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The Black Ferns Sevens were joined by Canada, Australia, USA and France in making a 100% start as the quarter-final line-up begins to take shape.
Meaningful pool games await on Saturday when the last-four line-up will be decided after a series of off-your-seat try-scoring moments at the new Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, which comes 50 years after the first Hong Kong Sevens.
POOL A: Black Ferns Sevens flex their muscles as Miller seizes centre stage
New Zealand’s women are the finest team on the planet in Sevens Rugby and they made an ominous start on day one in Hong Kong with two straight wins to top Pool A ahead of the quarter-finals.
First, they claimed a 23rd straight win against Brazil in HSBC Sevens but were made to work for their 29-12 success.
Katelyn Vahaakolo scored an early hat-trick and Jorja Miller was also on target against the Brazilians.
Brazil, though, gave the Black Ferns Sevens a fright with Camilla Carvalho’s delightful quickfire double before Kelsey Teneti added a fifth try for the reigning champions.
New Zealand then beat Japan 38-7 in the last women’s fixture of the day with a hat-trick from the brilliant Jorja Miller and further scores from Mahina Paul, Risi Pouri-Lane and Katelyn Vahaakolo.
Mei Ohtani scored Japan’s try but the Black Ferns Sevens were comprehensive victors as Miller went on to complete her hat-trick before Risi Pouri-Lane also touched down.
Head coach Cory Sweeney said: “The girls were awesome and are preparing for totally different situations all the time.
“We’ve been going well but will continue to take things one game at a time.”
Meanwhile, Fiji overcame rivals Brazil 15-12 for their first win in a tense clash that could have easily gone either way.
Atelaite Ralivanawa, Verenaisi Ditavutu and Silika Qalo scored for the Fijiana with Thalia Costa and Yasmim Soares touching down for Brazil.
Fiji captain Ditavutu said: “We played with some real teamwork and just went out and showed what we are capable of.
“That’s what the Fijiana is all about – making our supporters proud and everyone back home.”
Japan, meanwhile, eked out a hard-fought 12-5 win over Fiji.
Atelaite Ralivanawa opened the scoring for the Fijiana before tries from Mei Ohtani and Natsuki Ouchida gave Japan victory.
But they were brought back down to earth by the Black Ferns Sevens in the final women’s game of the day.
POOL B: Canada and Australia take maximum points
Canada showed their class with two comprehensive wins to claim top spot in Pool B after big wins over Great Britain and South Africa.
First they flexed their muscles with a 41-7 victory over GB with scores from Caroline Crossley, Breanne Nicholas, Alysha Corrigan and Charity Williams (two) Kennedi Stevenson and Savannah Bauder with Heather Cowell replying for GB.
Canada wowed the Hong Kong crowd again with a 31-0 win over South Africa.
This time their tries came from Alysha Corrigan (two), Charity Williams, Florence Symonds and Carmen Izyk.
There was a similar statement of intent when Australia sailed to two big wins over South Africa and Great Britain.
First they ran out comprehensive 33-0 victors over South Africa as Bienne Terita and Teagan Levi both scored twice while Kaitlin Shave also touched down.
Australia then further illustrated their quality by beating Great Britain 34-7.
The mercurial Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan both scored twice and Kaitlin Shave and Bienne Terita also touched down with Katie Shillaker replying for GB.
Maddison Levi’s scores saw her equal Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s try tally at 256.
POOL C: USA and France show their mettle with two wins
France and the USA both claimed two wins on day one and the French kicked off proceedings with a 29-14 victory over Argentina.
Sofia Gonzalez and Josefina Padellaro scored for Argentina but tries from Lou Noel, Anne-Cecile Ciofani, Lili Dezou, Alycia Christiaens and Chloe Jacquet secured a comfortable win for France.
USA claimed an impressive 24-7 win over Spain as Sammy Sullivan scored twice, and Ariana Ramsey and Kaylen Thomas also got on the scoresheet, while Spain’s sole try came from Juana Stella.
Another entertaining encounter saw France beat Spain 31-14.
France led 19-0 at the break through tries from Alycia Christiaens, Anaick Konyi and Chloe Jacquet before Juana Stella and Denisse Gortazar hit back for Spain.
Further scores, though, from Christiaens and Marie-Aurelie Castel confirmed France’s superiority.
The in-form Sammy Sullivan continued her blistering start to the weekend with another brace as USA beat Argentina 27-5.
Kaylen Thomas, Kristi Kirshe and Autumn Czaplicki also scored with Talia Rodich replying for Argentina.
