The New Zealand Women's Sevens team's main aim in the two months before the Rio Olympics will be how to combat Australia.
This follows another defeat, this time 14-5 in the Cup semifinals in Clermont-ferrand, to the newly crowned world champions.
Despite another Portia Woodman special, with her trademark in and away down the right flank, New Zealand were always playing catch-up against Australia, and were down 14-0 at one stage.
Sean Horan's charges held it together with a composed and largely error-free 22-5 win over England to clinch third place, and second overall in the World Series. Woodman scored another try, her 10th of the tournament, and 24th this season, and was solid on defence too, but had to leave the field with an injury in the second spell.
Playmaker Kelly Brazier showed her wares in the latter stages, scoring from a quick tap and then putting in a perfectly weighted grubber for Ruby Tui to cross in the final minute.
Earlier, New Zealand had edged hosts France 19-12 in the Cup quarter-final.
