The New Zealand Women's Sevens side will play the Cup quarter-finals tonight in Clermont, but Australia are on the cusp of the World Series title.
New Zealand, with the Portia Woodman-Kayla McAlister combination back and humming, swept Russia 32-0 and Japan 40-0, but almost came unstuck against Canada, conceding a late try, which was unconverted, to win 19-17. McAlister's brace was decisive.
New Zealand will play hosts France at 10.42pm tonight in the quarter-finals at the home of Fritz Lee, Benson Stanley and Isaia Toeava.
The other Cup quarters feature England v USA, Canada v Fiji and Australia v Spain. The series-leading Australians need only beat Spain to secure the title for the first time and confirm their favouritism ahead of the Rio Olympics.
