The USA women's national 7s team were thumped in the final of the Women's Sevens World Series tournament in Atlanta, losing to New Zealand 50-12.

New Zealand were brilliant, savvy, fast, and ferocious in the breakdown and precise in their passing. The Eagles could not get the ball, and, as happened in Saturday's pool game against New Zealand, they could not win the restarts.

Portia Woodman scored five tries in the final, a record, and the Eagles didn't see much of the ball all of the first half.

When they did get the ball, if support to the ruck was a shade late, New Zealand poached.

The USA did get two tries in the second half. Kate Zachary looped smartly around after a ruck, rumbled almost to the line, and Bui Baravilala picked and dove over.

But after that New Zealand, specifically Woodman, just torched the USA for three converted tries. Woodman got two, and Sarah Goss the other.

The USA ended the game with a try from Hannah Lopez, who looped around Katie Johnson and put on the gas.

Overall it was a stern lesson to the Eagles about getting possession, using possession, and protecting possession. New Zealand, winners of 30 straight World Series games, do it better than anyone.

But also a successful tournament for the United States, as they finished 2nd, garnering 18 points in the standings and moving up from 6th to 5th in the Series. Top four get automatic qualification to the 2016 Olympic Games, so that should be a goal for the Eagles now. They are only two points behind 4th-place France with three tournaments to play. Next up, Canada April 18-19.

Atlanta 7s Final

New Zealand 50

Tries: Woodman 5, Hireme 2, Goss

Convs: Nathan-Wong 2, Winiata 3

USA 12

Tries: Lopez, Baravilala

Convs: Kelter