Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians post big wins as rugby returns to the Olympics

Portia Woodman scored three tries for New Zealand and Charlotte Caslick did the same for Australia as the top contenders for the first Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens opened with lopsided wins.

New Zealand’s women beat Kenya 52-0 in Pool B and Australia routed Colombia 53-0 in pool A, the last match before an afternoon interval.

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France posted some early historic marks, with Camille Grassineau crossing for the first try and the team registering the first win in Olympic rugby sevens – 24-7 against Spain – in the tournament’s opening women’s match.

The powerful New Zealand team had too much energy and skill for Kenya, with Woodman scoring in the opening minute of each half in her hat-trick haul – which could have been better had she not dropped the ball when clear just metres from the try-line in the first half.

“That little fumble there doesn’t happen very often,” said the winger, daughter of former New Zealand All Black Kawhena Woodward and leading try-scorer in the women’s world series. “But just got to scratch that and get on with it again.”