PARIS: Reigning champions New Zealand will play the United States in the Olympic Sevens semi-final, but France's hopes of a rugby double gold were dashed after defeat by Canada at the Stade de France on Monday.
Another partisan, near-sellout crowd of 66,000 packed the Stade de France in the front row to watch Team France in their quest to emulate Antoine Dupont and the men's team in winning gold.
But there was disappointment as the Canadians ran out 19-14 winners to set up a semi-final against Australia.
The Australians outscored Ireland 40-7 in their quarter, with Maddison Levi scoring a hat-trick to set a new women's Olympic record of 11 tries, beating Portia Woodman-Wickliffe's best of 10 at the Games Rio 2016.
Piper Logan opened the scoring for Canada against France, chipping away from a puck for a fine individual try, Chloe Daniels converting.
But the home side, roared on by a raucous crowd, equalized on the half-time whistle with Ian Jason sprinting over for a try.
Yolaine Yengo converted that and her own try to take the lead after a brilliant Lili Dezou offloaded from a double tackle.
But Logan took it for her second, identikit try, captain Olivia Apps converting to make it 14 points apiece with three minutes to play.
Daniels dashed French hopes when he knocked down an unguarded blind for Canada's third try.
New Zealand, gold medalists at the Covid-postponed 2021 Tokyo Games, ran out 55-5 winners over China and will play the USA, 17-7 winners over Great Britain.
They were on the scoreboard within 30 seconds, veteran Sarah Hirini finishing off a layup by Theresa Setefano.
But China roared back, Yang Feifei shot to the line beckoning. When Hirini was yellow-carded for a header, the Chinese made their numerical advantage pay as Hu Yu raced past the stretched defense for a try.
There was no panic from New Zealand, who scored eight tries without reply.
Five points for Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Michaela Blyde and world rugby legend Woodman-Wickliffe, in her third and final Olympics, made it 24-5 at half-time.
Blyde crossed for his seventh try of the tournament early in the second period, quickly followed by four more from Felix-Hotham, Mahina Paul (2) and Hirini in what turned out to be a procession.
New Zealand's trans-Tasman rivals Australia, winners of the 2016 Rio Games, made a strong start against Ireland.
Levi scored a first-half hat-trick in what was a replay of both teams' final group game, won 19-14 by the Australians on Monday.
Faith Nathan crossed to make it 26-0 at half-time before Isabella Nasser and Bienne Terita added two more either side of an Irish consolation try from Stacey Flood.
Great Britain took the lead in their quarter through Ellie Boatman, with the USA replying through Naya Tapper after a strong break from TikTok star Ilona Maher.
Maher looked to be on course for the USA's second on the break, but an outstanding tackle on Jasmine Joyce ruined it.
Kristi Kirche got that American second, though, early in the second half followed by Sammy Sullivan to end Britain's medal hopes and give the US a place in the last four for the first time.
In the play-offs for the lower places, there was a memorable 28-22 victory for Brazil over Fiji, who had won bronze at the Tokyo Games.
Raquel Kochhann scored four tries, including an injury-time winner with a jink and sprint from her own line, the conversion setting up a play-off against Japan for ninth place.
