Australia, Canada and New Zealand progress at World Rugby Women's Sevens with unbeaten records

Australia, Canada and New Zealand enjoyed three wins each on the opening day ©World Rugby

Australia, New Zealand and hosts Canada boasted unbeaten records in the pool stage of the fourth World Rugby Women's Sevens Series leg of the season in Westhills Stadium in Langford, British Columbia.

New Zealand have proved to be the dominant team in the series so far, winning the opening three legs, held in Dubai, Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta.

They continued their excellent form in Canada with convincing victories in their opening Pool A matches, firstly beating Fiji 38-14, before running in seven tries to beat Spain 45-10.

Their toughest encounter came against England, with a brace from Amy Wilson Hardy putting the English team into a 12-5 half-time lead, but New Zealand fought back in the second half to earn a 24-12 victory.

New Zealand will face a rematch with Fiji in the quarter-final phase after the Pacific island nation finished in one of the two qualifying spots for third placed teams, while England by finishing as runners-up in the pool, after drawing with Fiji 19-19 and beating Spain 31-14, will now face the hosts in the last eight.

New Zealand and England proved to be one of the most enthralling contests on the opening day ©World Rugby

Canada, who sit joint second with Australia in the overall standings, earned a 26-15 victory over Russia, before clinching a comprehensive 47-0 win in their second match of Pool C against South Africa.

Canada’s final pool match proved to be a classic as they faced North American rivals the United States, in a contest between two teams boasting 100 per cent records after their opening matches.

The US, who finished as runners-up in their home leg in Atlanta, found themselves trailing 12-10 with four minutes remaining, but Lauren Doyle earned her second try of the match to put her team into a 15-12 lead and stun the Canadian crowd.

Her try did not prove decisive, however, as Canada hit back immediately through Ghislaine Landry, after she broke through the US defence to score, before adding the conversion to seal a 19-15 victory for the hosts.

"We were pretty clinical against South Africa which is good but a little impatient against the US,” said John Tait, the Canadian coach.

“It was good to have a good pressure game ahead of tomorrow's knockout rounds.

“The girls are enjoying the crowds and they've helped the performance."

Lauren Doyle scored two tries for the United States but it was not enough to beat Canada ©World Rugby

Australia were arguably the most impressive team of the opening day of the Canadian leg of the six-event series, ending the day with a positive points difference of 102 in Pool B, having beaten Brazil 43-0, China 40-0 and the French team 24-5.

They will aim to continue their form during the second and final day of competition, as they first face a quarter-final against Russia, who finished third in Pool C, while France will meet the US having finished as runners-up to Australia, with two wins and one defeat from their pool matches.