Rugby: Black Ferns 7s on top of world

The Black Ferns finished their World Series season in style in Clermont. Photo / Getty

The Black Ferns Sevens have done it.

They have finished their World Series season in style in Clermont, clinching their fifth tournament out of six in 2016-17 and showing they are the undisputed queens of sevens since the Rio Olympics.

They needed to defeat Fiji in the Cup quarter-final late last night to seal the championship and duly did so, beating the side that rose to fourth on the final standings 31-7. Teenager Alena Saili, who showed her worth on day two, scored a brace, one of them coming from a superb offload by her skipper Tyla Nathan-Wong, who was later adjudged player of the final.

Hosts France were repelled 21-7, the highlight being a Ruby Tui kick-pass to set up Michaela Blyde. That set up a trans-Tasman showdown in the Cup final.

New Zealand seized the initiative from the kickoff when Saili made a long break off the two-handed take. Less than a minute later Tui was darting in the corner on the blindside.

Though Shannon Parry hit back with a patiently constructed try for Australia to draw level at 7-7, New Zealand always appeared in control to take their 24th straight victory.

Tui set up Niall Williams and then good ball movement saw Blyde cross for her 40th season series try. Nice inter-passing saw Shakira Baker cross for their fourth try to seal the victory.

CHAMPIONS! The #BlackFerns7s have won the Word Rugby Women’s Sevens Series after beating Australia 22-7 in the final of the #Clermont7s. pic.twitter.com/UW0UvFL50i

— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) June 25, 2017

New Zealand thus take back the World Series title from Australia, whom they headed by 16 points and lays a solid foundation for 2017-18, in which they will contest the Commonwealth Games, the World Series and RWC Sevens in San Francisco.

"I'm absolutely stoked. The ladies have been outstanding all season," says Black Ferns Sevens coach Allan Bunting.

Cup quarter-final: New Zealand 31 (Alena Saili 2, Kat Whata-Simpkins, Crystal Mayes, Michaela Blyde tries; Tyla Nathan-Wong 3 con) Fiji 7 HT: 17-0

Cup semifinal: New Zealand 21 (Michaela Blyde, Ruby Tui, Kat Whata tries; Tyla Nathan-Wong 3 con) France 7 HT: 14-0

Cup final: New Zealand 22 (Ruby Tui, Michaela Blyde, Niall Williams, Shakira Baker tries; Tyla Nathan-Wong con) Australia 7 (Shannon Parry try; Chloe Dalton con) HT: 12-7