Australia Women’s Sevens are World Champions after a 26-19 win over New Zealand in the Bordeaux Final.
The Aussies timed their run to perfection, winning their second event in as many weeks to claim their first title in France and their second overall title in three years.
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Injured star Maddison Levi was the hero, defying a knee injury to carry the Australians home.
Levi missed the first two days of the final event of the three-leg World Championship but made up for it with a Player of the Match performance.
The speedster scored twice and saved a pivotal try as the team lifted around their all-time leading try-scorer.
The nerves were telling for both sides, with the sides trading errors to begin the match.
Heidi Dennis’ opening strike was answered by Manaia Nuku, with co-captain Bella Nasser delivering a brutal fend off to set up Levi for a seven point lead at the break.
Nasser was critical in defence and came up with a key try-saver in the first half after tracking down her own intercept.
The Kiwis dominated the start of the second half and eventually scored through Katelyn Vahaakolo in the corner.
With the game in the balance, two key moments decided the contest.
It started off the kickoff through Kahli Henwood, showing remarkable courage and toughness to bump off two defenders and release Faith Nathan for the instant response. The collision left Black Ferns skipper Risi Pouri-Lane knocked out on the floor, eventually taken from the field.
Following this, Vahaakolo sliced through the Aussie defence again, with Levi coming from the clouds to wrap up the star winger and turn the ball over.
She backed up her efforts and broke the Kiwis' fight with a trademark fend on Kelsey Teneti and a 60 metre burst for what would be an unassailable lead.
Teneti ensured New Zealand had the final say in the game, scoring well after the siren.
However, it failed to dull the celebrations as the Australians had the final laugh in their ever-growing rivalry.
Earlier in the day, the Aussies had set the tempo for a great day with a 21-7 win over the USA in the semi-finals.
Dennis was again critical, continuing her breakout season, while tries to Nasser and Madison Ashby sealed their place.
It almost sealed them the World Championship then and there, with the Kiwis needing an after-the-siren try from Jorja Miller to take down Canada a week after they put 50 on them.
But the Australians left little doubt as they shrugged off past defeats to the Black Ferns to secure the overall title.
As for the Men, they finished fifth overall after claiming seventh in France, defeating Great Britain 29-0.
