If the final standings are eventually decided by points difference, it’s advantage New Zealand, as they scored 91 points and conceded just five at Stade Atlantique, while Australia – who held back try-machine Maddison Levi, even though she was named in the squad – posted 64 and shipped 14.
The Black Ferns Sevens are well ahead of Australia on points difference this season – but, crucially, arrived in western France two league points down in the standings.
The trans-Tasman rivals won both their matches, and are already certain of a quarter-final berth, as are host-nation France, who picked up two well-worked Pool A wins over South Africa and Argentina – and are set to meet New Zealand on Saturday.
Canada and USA all also enjoyed a perfect run on the opening day in Bordeaux, meaning five of eight quarter-final places have been claimed, while Fiji, Japan and Spain are all well-placed to claim the remaining three slots.
POOL A: Miller cracks 50 on Black Ferns Sevens points charge
Stacey Waaka opened and closed the scoring and Jorja Miller reached a half-century of touchdowns in this HSBC SVNS season, as New Zealand ominously eased to a 49-5 win over Argentina.
Doubles for Manaia Nuku – her first with just 22 seconds on the clock – and Mahina Paul booked a second convincing win in a row for New Zealand, who brushed aside South Africa 42-0.
Les Bleues got the partisan home crowd cheering with a nervy 22-7 win over South Africa in their opening outing. Lou Noel scored two and created the space for Hawa Tounkara’s lead-stretching late touchdown.
Maria Tshiremba scored for South Africa, their first try against France since Cape Town in 2024.
The hosts made it two from two with a well-worked 27-10 win over Argentina in their second and final outing of day one. Kelly Arbey racked up a double in the seconds either side of half-time, after Cleo Hagel had opened the scoring. Lea Trollier and the prolific Alycia Christiaens added their names to the scoresheet in the second half, while Sofia Gonzalez scored both tries for the South American side.
POOL B: Nathan crosses 150 mark on mixed-bag day for Australia
Six Australians got their name on the scoresheet – Teagan Levi did it twice – as the Valladolid champions and HSBC SVNS World Championship Series leaders opened their Bordeaux account with a comprehensive 45-7 win over a game Brazil.
The HSBC SVNS World Championship Series leaders made sure of a quarter-final place but were unable to repeat their try-scoring exploits of their opening outing, as they laboured to a 19-7 win over Fiji second time out. Faith Nathan crossed the 150 try mark with the first of her two in the match.
Atelaite Buna Ralivanawa’s first-half brace and international sevens tries number 103 and 104 for Reapi Ulunisau saw Fiji safely through to an opening match 24-12 win over Japan.
But Japan recovered in their second match, pulling away from Brazil with a late double whammy to win 29-14 and keep alive their quarter-final hopes.
POOL C: Ramsey record as USA and Canada set up day two pool decider
Doubles for Su Adegoke and Erica Coulibaly sent USA on their way to a 31-7 win over Great Britain, while Sereana Vulaono was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Solana Shaw de Leon that forced Team GB’s try-scorer to leave the Stade Atlantique pitch on a stretcher.
Later, women’s sevens player-of-the-year nominee Ariana Ramsey raced clear to score the decisive try with the clock in the red as USA came from behind to beat a gutsy Spain 19-15, after team-mate Kaylen Thomas scored her 33rd touchdown of the season to set a new USA record.
Spain fell to their ninth defeat in a row against a below-par Canada but not before giving their already-qualified opponents an almighty scare. Asia Hogan-Rochester’s conversion of Taylor Perry’s patient second-half try was the difference in a tight match that ended 14-12.
Charity Williams, who had got the Bordeaux party started with her patented forward-roll touchdown celebration against Spain earlier in the day, scored a hat-trick for Canada, during their straightforward 35-14 win over Great Britain.