The quarterfinals for the inaugural Olympic Games women's rugby sevens competition have been confirmed after the final pool games in Sunday's morning session at the Deodoro Stadium.
 

Photos courtesy World Rugby.

With the top two teams from each of the three pools and the two best third-placed teams qualifying for the quarter-finals, the competition was as hot as the sweltering conditions for the final round of pool play. 

Having secured their places on day one, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain confirmed top place in their respective pools with unbeaten records and are joined in the quarters by Canada, France and Fiji as well as the best third-placed sides USA and Spain. However, the USA almost pulled off a bit of a surprise. The Eagles led through two Jessica Javelet tries 12-5, but Australia scored through Emma Tongenato as time wound down, and the conversion was good to tie the game. Victoria Folayan had a shot at winning the game for the Eagles at the death, but was hauled down by Charlotte Caslick.

Australia would have topped the pool even in defeat due to their superior points difference, but the draw meant that the Women's Sevens Eagles dropped below Fiji into third place in Pool A. Still it was a very much improved game for the USA team, and cause for optimism. However, they face the mighty New Zealand in the quarters.

Olympic Games women's rugby sevens quarter-finals
Australia v Spain (17:00)
France v Canada (17:30)
Great Britain v Fiji (18:00)
New Zealand v USA (18:30)

Positional play-offs
Placing 9-12: Brazil v Colombia (16:00)
Placing 9-12: Kenya v Japan (16:30)

With Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada and Great Britain having secured their quarter-final place on day one with a match to spare, attention on a sweltering morning in Rio turned to who would top the pools and the race to secure the two best third-place spots to keep dreams of gold alive.
 
Pool A
Australia made certain of top spot with a 12-12 tie with the USA. In a highly-competitive pool, Fiji secured second place with a 36-0 victory over Colombia to finish 2-1. The USA also made it through, finishing 1-1-1 and finishing as the best of the third-place teams.

Pool B
New Zealand finished top after a 26-7 win over France in their final pool match, with Portia Woodman and Kayla McAlister crossing the try-line again. France finished runners-up, while Spain also guaranteed a top eight finish with a 19-10 win over Kenya.

Pool C
Brazil delighted the home crowd with a 26-10 win over Japan, their first of the competition, but it was Great Britain who claimed top place in the pool, defeating Canada 22-0 in the pool decider with captain Emily Scarratt scoring two tries.

Great Britain caused an upset by emphatically beating a Canadian side who looked a shadow of their day one selves to top Pool C. Team GB pressurised Canada into making error after error and punished them with tries from Alice Richardson, Amy Wilson-Hardy and a quick-fire double from captain Emily Scarratt securing a 22-0 win.

Hosts Brazil had failed to score a try on the opening day but it was fitting that their long-serving captain Paula Ishibashi crossed for that maiden score against Japan and the home crowd were in raptures as two tries from hometown girl Beatriz Futuro Muhlbauer, either side of one by Amanda Araujo, gave them a 26-10 victory. The margin wasn't enough to secure a quarter-final place as one of the best two third-placed sides.