Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Black Ferns sevens survived a scare from Canada to book a place in the Vancouver world series tournament semi-finals on a special day for veteran player Kelly Brazier.
New Zealand held on for a 10-5 quarter-final win, having looked comfortable at 10-0 ahead through tries to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Michaela Blyde before weathering a second-half storm.
Canada struck back through Keyara Wardley and threatened to score again several times.
After easing comfortably through pool play, it was a reality check for the series-leading Black Ferns Sevens, who meet France in the semi-finals on Monday morning (10.26am NZT).
Brazier led the team out for what was her 200th match, that honour coming just hours after celebrating the arrival of her second child back in New Zealand.
The All Blacks Sevens couldn't match the women's result, losing their quarter-final 17-7 to Australia.
The series leaders trailed 12-7 at halftime and couldn't make an impact in the second half, although they will still be series leaders regardless of how the knockout results play out on Monday.
Earlier the New Zealand men completed a perfect record in pool play, winning their third match 40-5 against Samoa, with Joe Webber scoring three of the team's six tries.
- RNZ
