The Black Ferns Sevens have gone back-to-back to win New Zealand's first medal at the Paris Olympics.
Risi Pouri-Lane, Michaela Blyde and Stacey Waaka scored tries as New Zealand defended their Olympic women's sevens title with a 19-12 victory over Canada in the final at Stade de France on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time).
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The Black Ferns Sevens scored early when Pouri-Lane stepped inside and sprinted 50m to score, converting her own try.
After pinning the Canadians on attack inside their 22 for multiple phases, Canada broke out from behind their own posts and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe was yellow-carded for head contact in the tackle.
Canada initially knocked-on but got a crucial breakdown turnover near halfway got them the ball back and they tied it up with a try to Chloe Daniels before Woodman-Wickliffe re-entered the game.
With first half time up, New Zealand chose to attack from their own 22 but it backfired as Alysha Corrigan picked off a Sarah Hirini offload and scampered 30m to give Canada a 12-7 lead.
After a Jorja Miller turnover, Michaela Blyde stepped inside two Canadian players to score in the opening minute of the second half to retake the lead. It was Blyde's 16th Olympics try, tying Woodman-Wickliffe for the most in women's sevens.
Woodman-Wickliffe was lucky not to see another yellow card when she ran into an airborne Canadian player from the ensuing kick-off, and was subbed off immediately after.
A battered co-captain Hirini broke out from the shadow of her own posts, and she and Stacey Waaka linked up, with the wing going over in the right corner for a 19-12 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand pulled away from the United States in the second half to win their semifinal 24-12.
Waaka and Blyde each scored two tries as the Black Ferns Sevens scored 17 straight points in the second half to secure their place in the final.
The USA opened the scoring when Alev Kelter bumped off Jorja Miller on her run to the line, but Waaka quickly answered from long-range to put NZ ahead.
Waaka was denied a second just before halftime when she stepped on the sideline while diving for the corner, but would not be stopped just after the break after Miller had earned a penalty at the ruck.
With space on the outside, Blyde skinned her opposite twice for her eighth and ninth tries of the tournament to put New Zealand up 24-5, before Kristi Kirshe dotted down for a consolation five-pointer.
Canada, who the Black Ferns Sevens defeated 33-7 during pool play on Sunday (Monday NZT), caused the upset of the Olympic sevens tournament, shocking Australia 21-12 in the second semifinal
BLACK FERNS SEVENS RESULTS
SEMIFINAL
Black Ferns Sevens 24 (Stacey Waaka 2, Michaela Blyde 2 tries; Risi Pouri-Lane con, Tyla King con) USA 12 (Alev Kelter, Kristi Kirshe tries; Alena Olsen con). HT: 7-5
FINAL
Black Ferns Sevens 19 (Risi Pouri-Lane, Michaela Blyde, Stacey Waaka tries; Risi Pouri-Lane con, Tyla King con) Canada 12 (Chloe Daniels, Alysha Corrigan tries; Chloe Daniels con). HT: 7-12
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