Rugby: Black Ferns thrashed by Australia in Sydney sevens final

Australia beat the Black Ferns Sevens 31-0 at the Sydney Sevens final. Photo / Photosport

The Black Ferns Sevens have failed to fire in Sunday's Sydney Sevens final, limply falling 31-0 to Australia.

So dominant through their pool play and in Saturday's matches against Ireland and Canada, the Kiwis collapsed at the final hurdle.

They conceded five tries to none and never looked likely to respond, despite the attacking presence of Portia Woodman and Michaela Blyde.

Giving up first-half tries to Shannon Parry and Charlotte Caslick, a yellow card to Kiwi Tyla Nathan-Wong early in the second half didn't aid their cause.

Australia then romped home in the second stanza through Ellia Green, Evania Pelite and Emma Sykes tries to break a five-match losing streak against New Zealand and win their first trans-Tasman Sevens clash since the 2016 Rio Olympics final.

Across the entire tournament, they didn't concede a single point.

They're also the first host team to win a women's Sevens event on home soil.

For the New Zealanders, it's a major wake-up call heading into their Commonwealth Games tilt on the Gold Coast in April.

They were outgunned from the off, when Parry capitalised on a turnover to break the deadlock within a minute and Caslick followed suit.

Green then sprinted clear for Australia's third try to start the second half, finishing an Emilee Cherry break, before Pelite and Sykes killed off the match.

Sykes bagged three conversions from five.

It's also Australia's second consecutive World Sevens Series title win, having lifted the season-opening trophy in Dubai in December.

The Black Ferns Sevens finished fifth in that event.

- NZN

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