New Zealand failed to make the Final of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series for the first time after being upset by Australia 5-24 in this morning's semi-final of the penultimate leg of the series in London.
New Zealand's Katarina Whata-Simpkins celebrates a try with her team-mates. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
They claimed third place after beating the United States 24-19 in their play-off game while Australia went on to win the tournament with a last gasp 20-17 win over Canada.
Defending World Series champions New Zealand are still odds on to retain their overall title and will go into next weekend's last round in Amsterdam with 96 points, 20 more than Canada and Australia who share second place on 76 points.
With just the Amsterdam tournament to play in the Series, London is the first tournament title to go elsewhere this season.
Coach Sean Horan said the semi-final loss was "pretty disappointing".
"They really nailed us from the kick-off and then dominated the first half. They had 100 percent possession for the first six minutes and it is hard to play rugby without the ball.
"That has been a strength of our game, to hold on to possession. We scored just before half time, so I still had the belief. Then there was another key moment in the second half where if we had scored it might have been different, but that is hindsight," he said.
Horan felt the relief at having qualified on the first day for the Olympics meant New Zealand were not on song and Australia wanted the win more than New Zealand.
"We were mentally focused on Rio and we had done that, and won the World Series, and they struggled with the hunger and desire," he said.
New Zealand beat England 24-12 in their quarter-final.
In the semi-final, Australia hit New Zealand hard early.
They maintained possession and with quick, efficient passing were able to feed Chloe Dalton the overlap to open the scoring. Then a minute later they repeated the dose for Alicia Quirke to score.
New Zealand couldn't get their hands on the ball and when Charlotte Caslick took an offload to score under the posts Australia had a 19-0 lead.
Australia defended doggedly through the second half as New Zealand mounted attacks and finally Woodman scored but any hope of a comeback was denied as Australia scored again through Ella Green for a 24-5 win.
"Against Australia we got stung and we didn't react properly and in the playoff we were up against a United States team who wanted the points from a win to qualify for Rio.
"But the real strength of the leadership of the side showed through as captain Sarah Goss and vice captain Kelly Brazier lifted them," Horan said.
In the playoff the United States made a good start with some impressive, and patient, build-up play which saw Leyla Alev Kelter score first. Then they went further ahead when Victoria Folayan got around Woodman for a try.
However, Gayle Broughton got New Zealand back in the game with a try and then Woodman allowed New Zealand to claim the lead when scoring her 50th try of the season.
In the second half the United States latched onto a misdirected pass and Bui Baravilala scored to put them back in front.
Another upset looked on the cards as two minutes were left before Shiray Tane capitalised on the pressure New Zealand applied and while still down 17-19, a well-built move helped Kat Whata-Simpkins score for a 24-19 win and third place.
