New Zealand have stayed on track for both men's and women's crowns at the Sydney Sevens, but won't have to overcome the host nation on their way to the titles.
After capturing both world series championships in 2022, Australia were sensationally bundled out of both quarter-finals by France, as the Kiwis consolidated their hold on their season leads.
The Black Ferns Sevens faced Japan twice on Saturday, dishing out a 27-12 defeat in poolplay, before drawing the same opponents in the knockout stages.
This time, the NZ women were even more dominant, running in five unanswered tries - including two to teen sensation Jorja Miller - in a 33-0 whitewash.
The only real threat to the Ferns came when speedster Stacey Fluhler challenged a kickoff too vigorously and took out the Japanese jumper in the air, earning a yellow card.
Even then, Japan were unable to take toll of their numerical advantage, with Miller actually scoring her first try during the two minutes Fluhler was off the field and New Zealand played with six.
The Black Ferns now face Ireland in the semis, as they did last week, when they went on to win on home soil at Hamilton.
Missing from the final four are Australia, who dominated last year and through the early rounds of this year's series, but lost to New Zealand in the Cape Town final and then to USA in the Hamilton semis.
This week, they slid even further, with a 10-5 quarter-final loss to France, who will take on the Americans in the other semi-final.
Meanwhile, the NZ men moved into the final four with a nervy 12-0 win over Samoa, who had beaten the Kiwis twice already this year - including the Cape Town final - but failed to make the knockout rounds at Hamilton.
The All Blacks Sevens were unable to take advantage of an extra player, after Faafoi Falaniko was yellow-carded for impeding Roderick Solo in his chase for a kick ahead, but Solo later had too much gas from his own half in a footrace to the tryline.
Both teams sought the knockout blow through the second half and eventually, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black powered over in the final seconds to clinch the contest.
Of New Zealand's nearest rivals for the men's series lead, USA (second) and Argentina (third), but South Africa (fourth) can reach the top with victory in the final, if the Kiwis lose both their remaining games.
New Zealand will meet France in the semis, while South Africa and Fiji battle for the other spot in the final.
Sydney Sevens quarter-finals
Men - NZ 12 (Solo & McGarvey-Black tries; McGarvey-Black conversion) Samoa 0
Women - NZ 33 (Miller 2, Blyde, Fluhler & Woodman-Wickliffe tries; Nathan-Wong 4 conversions) Japan 0
