Australia’s rugby sevens teams have both lost finals to New Zealand in the season-opening world series event in Dubai.
The Australian women’s team was defeated for the first time in Dubai after five consecutive tournament triumphs, outplayed 29-14 in the final by the reigning world series champions.
New Zealand proved too strong for the Australian men’s team, winning 26-22 in their final.
In the women’s tournament decider, New Zealand’s Jorja Miller scored two tries in a player-of-the-final performance to eclipse her star Australian counterpart Maddison Levi.
Levi, who had scored seven tries over the weekend going into the final, did not get a look-in as New Zealand leapt out to a 17-0 half-time lead.
Tries from Stacey Waaka, Kelsey Teneti and Risi Pouri-Lane added to Miller’s double, with two second-half scores from Heidi Dennis proving the only consolation for Australia.
The Australian men, who had earlier beaten France 14-0 in the semifinals, began positively against New Zealand with Maurice Longbottom going over for the first try.
But Longbottom injured himself while scoring and had to leave the field, handing the initiative to New Zealand, who grabbed a 12-5 half-time lead through tries from Dylan Collier and Akuila Rokolisoa.
New Zealand maintained its command in the second half, with late Australian tries helping to limit the winning margin to four points.
AAP