Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand both looked in ominous form on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Series stopover in Perth, as they ended the day with just one match each between them and a fourth final encounter in as many HSBC SVNS Series tournaments this season. 

Neither side looked like losing as temperatures hit 35C and beyond at HBF Park.

The Black Ferns Sevens will face France in the last four on Sunday, while Australia take on USA.

Japan will play Great Britain, and Canada meet Fiji in the minor play-off places.

POOL A: Clinical Black Ferns Sevens in control on day one

Unstoppable New Zealand laid down a marker on the opening day in Perth, running in 17 tries as they racked up three wins from three to finish top of their pool.

The Singapore champions eased through the gears to beat a determined Japan 34-12 on their first outing of the day at HBF Park.

A hat-trick for Kelsey Teneti guided them to a 36-5 victory over Fiji, guaranteed the Singapore and Dubai champions a fourth semi-final spot in a row, and set-up a pool decider against USA.

And the Black Ferns Sevens rounded off their day one efforts with a commanding 31-0 win over fellow semi-final qualifiers USA, Teneti adding another two to her Perth tally.

Despite the disappointment of their final match on day one, USA were already assured of a semi-final place, after winning their first two games. 

Yellow cards for Su Adegoke and Sammy Sullivan could not derail USA in the day’s opening game. They overcame a slow start and a second-half fightback to beat Fiji 34-15, courtesy of two late touchdowns.

USA’s second win in as many outings was a 38-14 victory over Japan in their second match of the day. Kaylen Thomas and Adegoke both scored twice as they overwhelmed their opponents in the second-half.

Fiji went winless in the pool phase for the first time since last year’s Perth stop, losing the third and final outing of day one 31-14 to an inspired Japan. 

POOL B: Australia march on at home

A Heidi Dennis hat-trick was the highlight as hosts Australia got the Perth crowd cheering early on with an eight-try 54-5 opening-outing recital against Great Britain.

They followed that by tucking into France in their second outing — a first-half brace from Maddison Levi, following a cagey opening, setting them on the road to a 26-12 win that put them within touching distance of the semi-finals.

Earlier, Alycia Christiaens scored in each half as Les Bleues got off to the perfect start in Perth after their rollercoaster ride in Singapore, beating Canada 24-12.

Canada recovered from their opening game defeat and kept their hopes of a semi-final place alive with a comfortable 45-7 win over a Great Britain side still looking for their first HSBC SVNS win this season. Carissa Norsten scored three of the seven tries for the Olympic silver medalists.

But the odds remained in France’s favour, as they had arguably the easier final match against Great Britain, while Canada had Australia in their way.

Les Bleues made no mistake. Lou Noel scored two of their six tries as they won 42-10 — meaning Canada needed to beat Australia by at least eight points in their final day one outing to qualify for the last four.

But the match went the way of last weekend’s HSBC SVNS Series semi-final. Australia, who have only lost in the finals in Dubai and Singapore on the tour this season. The remarkable Maddison Levi scored twice as they went one better than New Zealand on the day one try count to win 38-10.