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Now featuring six tournaments as opposed to five the year before, the 2014-15 series was dominated by reigning champions New Zealand, who swept to their third straight title with tournament victories in Dubai, Brazil, USA and Canada before Australia and Canada prevented a clean sweep with victories in London and Amsterdam.By winning the European rounds, Canada and Australia were assured of second and third place behind New Zealand, while England had to rely on a nail-biting 15-14 third place play-off win over the USA in Amsterdam to seal Team GB’s berth after both finished with 76 points.After one-score victories over cross-Tasman rivals Australia in the first two tournaments, New Zealand stepped up a gear when the series reached Atlanta. Portia Woodman – who was named World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in YEAR IN REVIEW 2015 WORLD RUGBY 55ABOVEPortia Woodman was the star of a dominant New Zealand sideThe third edition of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series doubled as a 2016 Olympic Games qualifier, with the top four teams booking their tickets to Rio. November – scored five tries as the host nation were swept aside 50-12 in the final.Russia sprung a surprise by reaching the final in Langford, Canada – a new destination on the series – in April but they were powerless to stop New Zealand in their tracks. New Zealand’s 37-match unbeaten run came to an end when Spain pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the sport’s history on day one in London a month later. Despite the upset, Sean Horan’s charges retained their composure to cement their spot in Rio after defeating France 24-0 in their last match of the day.A fifth straight tournament proved beyond them, though, Australia making it through to the final at their expense with a 24-5 victory in the semis. Leading 17-5 with four minutes of the final remaining, Canada looked certain of victory but a late three-try salvo saw Australia take the honours.Canada, however, turned the tables on Australia by reversing the 20-17 scoreline from London to win the final round in Amsterdam courtesy of a last-gasp try from Ghislaine Landry in the Cup decider.The top nine sides in the standings secured their places as core teams for the 2015-16 series and were joined by Japan and Ireland after they safely negotiated the series qualifier in Dublin in August.THREE IN A ROW FOR NEW ZEALAND WOMEN52tries scored in the 2014-15 series by Portia Woodman. She is one of only five players, men or women, to surpass 50 in a season SEVENS REVIEW | WORLD IN UNION