The Black Ferns sevens have done what their New Zealand male counterparts failed to do at the Paris Olympics – qualifying for the semi-finals thanks to a devastating mix of power, pace and experience.

The women have done very well, beating China, Canada and Fiji in the group stage, and China again in the quarter-finals this morning. However, it remains to be seen whether these qualifications will be enough for the final two hurdles.

Not to look too far ahead, their final opponent will almost certainly be Australia when the New Zealanders beat the United States in their semi-final tomorrow morning (NZT).

New Zealand are the reigning Olympic champions and Australia are the reigning Sevens Series champions. The gold medal battle between the two rivals, should it happen, is likely to be epic.

The Aussies also looked good in Paris, beating Ireland 40-7 in the quarter-finals and boasting two of the game’s biggest stars in Charlotte Caslick and Maddison Levi.

Levi’s 11 tries so far in Paris broke Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s long-standing individual tournament try record. Australia will play Canada in the semi-final.

The Black Ferns Sevens have won every match in Paris by at least 26 points, but the big question for Woodman-Wickliffe and Sarah Hirini and their team is: will they be strong when it counts?

This is relevant because the All Blacks Sevens were unable to match the pace of South Africa in their quarter-final, despite beating them in the pool stage.

Veterans Scott Curry, 36, and Dylan Collier, 33, looked out of sorts in the sudden-death match, although New Zealand were at a disadvantage with injuries to Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and Regan Ware keeping them out of the field against the Blitzboks.

Curry and Collier were part of a team that intimidated their opponents in the group stage but failed to capitalize on their chances despite a series of clean breaks in the quarterfinals.

It was telling that New Zealand’s most effective player was Moses Leo, the 26-year-old likely to be the fastest man in the squad. This emphasis on age and speed is likely to dominate the assessment of New Zealand’s rugby team after the Olympics, after the men won a silver medal in Tokyo.

Woodman-Wickliffe, 33, is in her final campaign in a black shirt. The power has not diminished, but the pace clearly has.

Hirini, 31, is still trying to find her way at the Olympics after suffering a knee injury that has kept her out of action since December.

She was perhaps lucky to only end up in the penalty box for an accidental head contact with a Chinese attacker in the early morning of the quarter-final.

A red card would have ruled her out for the rest of the Games and probably changed the face of the match. China scored their only try immediately after Hirini left the field.

With seven tries at these Games, 28-year-old Michaela Blyde is New Zealand’s best weapon in attack. But their most valuable player may be 20-year-old Jorja Miller, a physical playmaker in midfield who can create chances with her defence or sleight of hand, and score goals too.

Following the failure of the All Blacks Sevens, there have been some comments made about the ‘brutality’ of sport, including from former All Blacks captain Sam Cane, who knows a thing or two about that.

Another gold medal for the Black Ferns sevens will be a triumph of many things, including experience. A failure could put the spotlight on the age of some New Zealand athletes. Such are the margins at the highest level.

Olympic sevens schedule

Semi finals: NZ v USA, Wednesday 1:30am NZT.

Semi finals: Australia v Canada, Wednesday, 2am NZT.

Play-offs for bronze medal: TBC, Wednesday 5am NZT.

Gold Medal Play-offs: TBC, Wednesday 5:45am NZT.