New Zealand has suffered a double blow at the Perth Sevens, the men's team failing to make it to the Cup quarter-finals after losing to Fiji in their final pool match and the women losing their Cup quarter-final to Australia, with Jorja Miller dismissed after just 43 seconds.
Miller was red carded for a head clash as she attempted to make a tackle. The Black Ferns sevens recovered to take the lead, helped by a red card for a similar offence by Australia's Maddison Levi, but they were overtaken to lose 24-14.
New Zealand briefly hit the front after two tries to Mikaela Blyde, but veteran Charlotte Caslick and Dominique Du Toit both crossed to secure the host nation's win.
Levi's sister Teagan, who got a red card on Friday following another head-on-head clash, will be available for the final if Australia make it through.
The men gave up a 14-0 lead against Fiji in a pool match to lose 21-14.
The women beat Japan, Ireland and the USA in their Pool C matches before losing to the hosts and will play France tonight at 8.01pm in a playoff for fifth and sixth. Miller is unlikely to be available due to a probable ban.
The men had an even more disappointing tournament, losing to France and Fiji in their pool matches and beating only Samoa.
They did manage to beat Canada 26-21 in a playoff and will face Samoa again at 4.08pm in a playoff for ninth and 10th.
The final four in the men's Cup competition are Ireland, Argentina, Fiji and Australia, with Ireland, Great Britain, Australia and the USA still standing in the women's competition.
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