New Zealand win thriller to keep SVNS World Championship dream alive

The 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship will be decided in the Bordeaux Women’s Final on Sunday, with New Zealand to face Australia at Stade Atlantique. New Zealand kept their titles hopes alive with a nail-biting 19-17 win over Canada, which was won in the final play.

Australia are through to the big dance after overcoming the USA 21-7, with three try-scorers making their mark. The Aussies must win the Cup Final to secure the World Championship, as the New Zealanders would otherwise claim the crown on overall match points differential.  

New Zealand remains in the World Championship race after  a miraculous escape to beat Canada, following a Jorja Miller knock on with less than 50 seconds left. Canada packed downfor a scrum with time and the scoreboard on their side. 

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But New Zealand’s scrambling rush defence added more drama to a semi-final epic, with Risi Pouri-Lane getting over the ball and winning a pilfer penalty as the full-time siren sounded. Miller sliced through to score soon after, levelling the match with a kick still to come. 

Manaia Nuku had the chance to add the match-winning points and made no mistake. The New Zealanders were thrilled as they walked down the tunnel moments after the match had ended, but the SVNS giants know there’s still one more match that needs to be won. 

“The biggest thing is just to stay calm. We know how to play rugby, we’ve been in moments like this before, but the biggest thing was just to be calm. We’ve still got time. If there’s time on that clock, 30 seconds, seven seconds, whatever it is, all we need is the ball,” Pouri-Lane told RugbyPass in Bordeaux. 

“To be composed with it, to be able to stay united as one and now drop our heads, that’s the biggest thing as well. When there’s time on the clock, there’s time. 

“I was looking at [the clock] as we were setting up the scrum and I knew that Canada were trying to slow it down which, if it was us we would’ve done the same thing. 

“I know for us that as Black Ferns Sevens when we apply pressure, when we believe in ourselves, we can get on top of teams. If there’s 10 seconds to go, we’ve got to take our moment. It’s a game of moments.” 

Australia have made every Cup Final during the 2026 season, qualifying for the decider at Stade Atlantique with a 14-point win against the USA. Heidi Dennis was first to strike for the Aussies, before both co-captains make a difference. 

Madison Ashby and Isabella Nasser both got on the scoresheet, as the Aussies charged ahead to the Cup Final with plenty of confidence. Australia haven’t won back-to-back events in a single season since late 2023, so will need to make history to secure the World Championship. 

“We’ve played Australia many, many times. They know how we play, we know how they play but again, it’s a game of moments and we’ve just got to be smart and focus on us,”Pouri-Lane said. 

“When our eyes, when our gaze lifts to the other team we lose sight of what we’re actually good at. 

“It hurt last week to come so close. I know it’s going to be a battle, it always is against Aussie and I’m really looking forward to if it is them that matchup. 

“We know what’s on the line. Everything that’s happened the past year, two years, it’s led to this moment here so I’m really looking forward to it.”