Lori Cramer penalties at the end of each half edged Australia to a 13-7 win against Wales that sent them through to the quarter-finals as Pool A runners-up on Saturday.
In the fifth minute, Wallaroos scrum-half Iliseva Batibasaga scored the opening try of the match following a brilliant piece of opportunism, which Cramer converted.
Sioned Harries burrowed over around 18 minutes later to help level the score before Cramer nudged the Wallaroos back in front with her first penalty on the stroke of half-time. It remained 10-7 until the closing stages when the Australia full-back added a second three-pointer to make sure of victory.
The Black Ferns secured the bonus-point win they needed, beating Scotland 57-0 in front of more than 16,000 fans to seal top seeding for the quarter-finals.
Coach Wayne Smith rang the changes for the final pool match but the hosts struck within two minutes through Renee Holmes and scored seven tries in a dominant first-half display.
Scotland dug deep after the break to stem the tide, but conceded a further two tries, to Maia Roos and a second for Holmes, who ended the match with 22 points having converted six of her side’s nine tries.
France also got the bonus-point victory they craved against Fiji, beating the Rugby World Cup debutants 44-0 in the final match at Northland Events Centre.
Marine Ménager, Melissande Llorens and Maëlle Filopon each touched down in the first half as Les Bleues attempted to ensure they would finish the pool phase no lower than second in Pool C and fourth seed.
The all-important fourth try came midway through the second half, through Filopon and there was time for Emiline Gros, Emilie Boulard and Célia Domain to cross the whitewash before the end.
On Sunday, Italy were made to work hard by Japan to secure the 21-8 victory that ultimately took them through to the quarter-finals as Pool B runners-up.
Maria Magatti scored the opening try of the match within nine minutes, but Japan replied on the half-hour mark through Kyoko Hosokawa.
The score was tied at 8-8 early in the second half after Michela Sillari – who became Italy’s top-scoring woman at Rugby World Cup – and Ayasa Otsuka traded penalties. But Sillari kicked two more three pointers and then converted Melissa Bettoni’s late try to wrap up the win.
Canada made sure of top spot in Pool B and second seed for the quarter-finals as they ran in five tries to beat the USA 29-14.
Tries from Emily Tuttosi, Alex Tessier and Paige Farries gave Canada a 19-7 half-time lead, the USA’s reply coming from Alev Kelter.
The USA had a try disallowed early in the second half and conceded for a fourth time soon afterwards as Olivia DeMerchant went over. Kate Zackary did grab a second for the Women’s Eagles before the end, but Canada prop Mikiela Nelson rounded off the scoring in the final play.
In the final match of the pool phase, England ran in 13 tries to beat South Africa 75-0 and claim top spot in Pool C.
Rosie Galligan and Connie Powell both scored a hat-trick of tries at Waitakere Stadium, while Poppy Cleall and Sadia Kabeya each grabbed two and Shaunagh Brown, Marlie Packer and Abby Dow also crossed the whitewash.
The Springbok Women’s cause was not helped as they lost both Catha Jacobs and captain Nolusindiso Booi to yellow cards during the first half.
WHEN WILL THE QUARTER-FINALS BE PLAYED? The RWC 2021 quarter-finals get underway at 16:30 local time (GMT+13) on Saturday when fourth seeds France take on Italy at the Northland Events Centre in Whangārei.
Both teams finished second in their respective pools and shared victories when they met for back-to-back warm-up matches last month.
Next up in Whangārei, the hosts put their quest for a sixth Rugby World Cup title on the line against eighth-seed Wales, with kick-off at 19:30 local time.
The teams met in the pool phase, when the Black Ferns ran in 10 tries to secure a 56-12 victory.
On Sunday, the action returns to Waitakere Stadium in Auckland where third-seeds, England face Australia at 13:30 local time (GMT+13).
England are unbeaten in five matches against the Wallaroos and won 15-0 when they last met at Rugby World Cup, in the semi-finals 12 years ago.
The final quarter-final will kick-off at 16:30 local time in Auckland and is another pool phase repeat as the USA take on second seeds, Canada.
Canada secured a sixth successive win against their North American rivals on the weekend, but the Women’s Eagles will be confident they can claim a first win in the fixture since 2019, and their place in the semi-finals.
