Defending champions New Zealand are on course for a third consecutive HSBC SVNS Singapore title after booking their semi-final spot in sensational fashion on Saturday.

The Black Ferns Sevens won all three games – against Great Britain, Canada and France – to top Pool B and set up a mouthwatering showdown with USA on Sunday.

The other semi-final will see Australia, who also won their three games, face Canada as another thrilling day of action at the Singapore National Stadium reaches a crescendo. 

New Zealand scored a total of 138 points in their three games to suggest it could take a special team to stop them going all the way tomorrow.

POOL A: Australia and USA flash a title warning after booking semi-final spots

USA conjured a stunning second-half comeback to overturn Japan’s 19-0 interval lead and win 22-19 in their Pool A opener. 

Japan appeared to be in control after tries from Hazuki Ouchida (two) and captain Hanako Utsumi.

But the USA Eagles hit back with doubles from Kaylen Thomas and Su Adegoke to secure their first-ever pool win in Singapore.

It was a sister act for Australia – champions in Cape Town and runner-up in Dubai – who showed their experience to beat Fiji 35-7 in a statement win.

The formidable Maddison Levi scored a superb individual opener to register her 222nd try in sevens rugby before her younger sibling Teagan added Australia’s second.

Captain Madison Ashby claimed a third try before Fiji replied through Reapi Ulunisau but further Australia scores from Kaitlin Shave and Faith Nathan.

USA beat Fiji 17-12 with Ariana Ramsey (two) and Sariah Ibarra touching down and Silika Qalo and Adi vani Buleki scoring for Fiji.

Australia showed their class with another win as they beat Japan 26-19 courtesy of tries from Maya Stewart’s double and scores from Maddison Levi and Heidi Dennis.

Japan, who were 19-0 down at the break, registered tries from Mei Ohtani, Haruna Konishi and Yume Hirano.

Fiji 7s beat Japan 34-12 with tries from Alfreda Fisher, Verenaisi Ditavutu (two), Sesenieli Donu, Sera Bolatini and Mariana Talatoka with Ria Anoku and Mei Ohtani crossing for Japan.

In the final game, Australia beat the USA 26-19 to top Pool A.

Maddison Levi took centre stage again with a hat-trick while a Kaylen Thomas brace and a penalty saw the scores level before Maya Stewart’s late try secured a 26-19 win.

POOL B: Canada open with thriller as New Zealand flex their muscles 

Canada captain Carissa Norsten scored a dramatic extra-time try to secure a 29-24 victory over France to kick off the day’s action in fine style.

Canada were quickest out of the blocks as they raced into a 17-0 lead with scores from Alysha Corrigan, Kennedi Stevenson and Norsten.

But a pacey France side – with an average age of just 20 – responded through Kelly Arbey before the break.

Stevenson scored her second for Canada but tries from Lili Dezou, Arbey and Lou Noel levelled matters at 24-24 before Norsten’s extra-time clincher.

The match also saw Breanne Nicholas equal the great Bianca Farella’s all-time record of 45 Sevens caps for Canada.

New Zealand then underlined their pedigree by scoring 10 tries in a commanding 64-0 victory over Great Britain.

The prolific Jorja Miller raced clear from distance and Katelyn Vahaakolo, the mercurial Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Mahina Paul and Risi Pouri-Lane all touched down before the break.

After the interval, Vahaakolo, Paul, Olive Watherstone, Kelsey Teneti and Sorensen-McGee underlined the Black Ferns Sevens’ superiority.

It was a poignant occasion for their players who wore black armbands as a mark of respect to honour those who died in the recent landslides at Mount Maunganui.

This tragedy is close to home with the womens and mens teams based on New Zealand’s North Island.

France earned their first win after an impressive 32-5 success over Great Britain.
Anaick Konyi, Lili Dezou, Mariama Tandiang (two), Kelly Arbey and Lou Noel scored for the French, while Great Britain’s only score came from Katie Shillaker.

New Zealand registered their 40th win over Canada with a 19-12 success with the impressive Jorja Miller scoring twice and Stacey Waaka also on target with Olivia Apps claiming a brace in reply.

Canada won the second of their three games by comfortably beating Great Britain 52-0 with tries from Olivia Apps, Breanne Nicholas, Krissy Scurfield (two), Alysha Corrigan, Kennedi Stevenson and a brace from Sabrina Poulin.

New Zealand beat France 55-7 with scores from Jorja Miller, Kelsey Teneti, Stacey Waaka (two), Mahina Paul, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Alena Saili (two) and Jaymie Kolose with Mariama Tandiang scoring for the French.