Both New Zealand teams produce hot displays to qualify for finals at Sydney Sevens

Both New Zealand sevens teams have booked their places in the finals of the World Series tournament, to be played in Sydney on Sunday night.

The All Blacks Sevens men’s team easily beat France 36-5 in their semi, while the Black Ferns team earlier thumped Ireland 41-0 to book their spot in the women’s big showdown.

The All Blacks Sevens will meet South Africa, who rolled Fiji 31-12 in their semi, in the men’s final which will be played 10.26pm (NZT).

The Black Ferns will meet France in the women’s final at 9.56pm (NZT). France beat the United States 20-7 in their semi.

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The men demolished France in the first half, leading 31-0 at halftime. Tough defence, combined with sublime finishing skills from Akuila Rokolisoa and Leroy Carter, who scored three and two tries each, respectively, rocked the French in the opening stanza.

And the French had few answers to the might of the men in the black in the second spell.

This was a convincing way for the New Zealanders to build-up for the final, after they were bitterly disappointed to lose to Argentina in the World Series final in Hamilton the previous weekend.

If the Black Ferns can retain their form and send the French packing in their final it will be their second consecutive title win on the circuit after winning the tournament in Hamilton.

Captain Sarah Hirini offered the Irish a taste of her team’s intent with the ball by scoring the first try of the match; having produced a powerful fend to shunt-off an opponent, Hirini accelerated 40m downfield for a fine try.

Strike weapon Stacey Fluhler then loaded more misery on the women in green with another five-pointer, which gave the New Zealanders a 10-0 lead, and when Shiray Kaka took-off on a blistering run down the left-hand flank after the halftime hooter it enabled the Black Ferns to go into the break with a big 17-0 lead.

When Tyler Nathan-Wong scored within seconds after the restart it became clear Ireland’s hopes of advancing to the big showdown were gone, as the New Zealanders dominated the breakdown and used their creativity and quick ball movement to punish their opponents.

Kaka, especially, had a memorable outing, scoring three tries.

On Saturday night the Black Ferns defeated Japan 33-0 in their quarterfinal. Despite having Fluhler yellow-carded for taking a player out in the air early in the first half, the Black Ferns scored tries through Michaela Blyde, Jorja Miller and a returning Fluhler to set the platform for the victory.

Miller got her second in the second half before veteran Portia Woodman-Wickliffe came off the bench to emphasise the title-favourites’ dominance.