Heidi Dennis and Maddison Levi gave Australia a 14-7 lead at the end of an all-action, don\u2019t blink first-half marked as much by the crunching tackles flying in as it was the trio of tries \u2013 Manaia Nuku finding an against-the-run-of-play answer for the Black Ferns Sevens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Zealand hit back through Katelyn Vahaakolo midway through the second period \u2013 but an injury hoodoo that has plagued them in Bordeaux struck again. With Stacey Waaka and Mahina Paul already ruled out, they lost Risi Pouri-Lane in the very next play, which ended with Faith Nathan scoring for Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Levi \u2013 in just her second match in Bordeaux \u2013 sealed the result with her second try of the final. Kelsey Teneti\u2019s after-the-hooter touchdown to take the final score to 26-19 was just a consolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player of the final Levi had returned to the Australia starting line-up for the first time since the second SVNS World Championship Series tournament in Valladolid as the standings leaders weathered a second-half storm against USA to win 21-7 and set up a winner-takes-all final against their great trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heidi Dennis, Madison Ashby and Isabella Nasser all scored in the first five minutes as Australia threatened to run away with the last-four match \u2013 but they were pegged back and USA had their chances after Kaylen Thomas cut the deficit before half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For New Zealand, some late-season cracks were showing. Jorja Miller touched down under the posts with the clock in the red to break Canadian hearts in a thrilling semi-final in Bordeaux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Paris Olympic silver medallists were seconds from a historic second win over the Black Ferns Sevens in 37 attempts \u2013 leading 17-12 courtesy of a double from Charity Williams and a score for Savannah Bauder \u2013 when they gave up a penalty just outside their own 22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miller did the rest, and gave Manaia Nuku a simple conversion to win it 19-17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Levi, who only returned to the pitch on the final day in Bordeaux after picking up an injury in Valladolid a week earlier, paid tribute to her team mates. \u201cI got to play two games,\u201d she told Rugbypass immediately after the final. \u201cThey played six and they\u2019ve carried the whole way through, so it [the Player of the Final award] goes out to the whole team. They help me out there and they helped me get back so I wouldn\u2019t be there without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been our most consistent season. We\u2019ve been in every single final. So I think, win or lose in that game, we\u2019re building as a programme, we\u2019re creating depth, and for us to go out there and beat a pretty amazing New Zealand side \u2013 they’re always tough, they always fight. It\u2019s pretty awesome to have the girls out there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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