PARIS: Defending champions New Zealand will play the United States in the semi-finals of the Olympic Sevens, but French 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 gathered at the Stade de France primarily to watch the France team in their quest to emulate Antoine Dupont and the men's team when it came to gold.
But there was disappointment as the Canadians ran out 19-14 winners to set up a semi-final against Australia.
The Australians outclassed Ireland 40-7 in their quarter, Maddison Levi scoring a hat-trick to set a new women's record of 11 tries scored at an Olympics, beating Portia Woodman-Wickliffe's previous best of 10 at the 2016 Rio Games.
Piper Logan opened the scoring for Canada against France, clearing a scrum for a fine individual try, Chloe Daniels converted.
But the home side, roared on by a raucous crowd, drew level at the half-time whistle, and Ian Jason sprinted over for a try.
Yolaine Yengo converted that and her own try to take the lead after a brilliant Lili Dezou offload after a double tackle.
But Logan raced away for her second, identikit, try, captain Olivia Apps converting to make it 14 points each with three minutes to play.
Daniels dashed French hopes when she fired down an unguarded blindside pass for Canada's third try.
New Zealand, gold medalists at the Covid-delayed 2021 Tokyo Games, ran out comprehensive 55-5 winners over China and will play the USA, 17-7 victors over Great Britain.
They were on the scoreboard within 30 seconds, veteran Sarah Hirini finishing a break with Theresa Setefano.
But China roared back, Yang Feifei dragged down the line and waved. With Hirini booked for a tackle on the head, the Chinese made the numerical advantage pay when Hu Yu outpaced the stretched defense for a try.
There was no panic from New Zealand, who went on to score eight tries without reply.
Five-pointers for Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Michaela Blyde and global 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 at the 2016 Rio Games, made a strong start against Ireland.
Levi grabbed a first-half hat-trick in what was a rematch of both sides' final pool match earlier on Monday, a 19-14 win by the Australians.
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, the USA responded through Naya Tapper after a strong break from TikTok star Ilona Maher.
Maher looked like she could have been in the USA's second at halftime, but an outstanding tackle from Jasmine Joyce wiped her out.
However, Kristi Kirche got the American second 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 minor play-offs, there was a memorable 28-22 victory for Brazil over Fiji, who had taken bronze at the Tokyo Games.
Raquel Kochhann scored four tries, including an injury-time winner, with a sprint and sprint from her own line, the conversion setting up a play-off against Japan for ninth place.