Several members of the Aussie team broke down in tears after New Zealand scored a dramatic long-range try after the siren in the first period of extra time to win 17-12.

The two teams were inseparable for more than 20 minutes, before Kelly Brazier ran away with an 80m dart to the line.

The brave Aussies simply couldn’t reel her in.

The dramatic finish came after Aussie star Cassie Staples had an inexplicable brain snap by punting the ball into the stands on the regular time bell with the scores locked at 12-12.

She appeared to think Australia was in front.

With the Aussies regaining possession after time had elapsed in regular time the Aussies lined up out on the right hand side of the field for one final assault on the Kiwi try line.

Commentators believed Staples was trying to get the ball to Aussie speedster Ellia Green on the wing — but instead of passing she booted the ball into the fifth row.

The roaring crowd went silent instantly.

“Wow. Why did she do that? Wow. I don’t think she knew,” Sevens’ rugby sevens commentators said.

“There was complete silence. I don’t think the crowd can believe it.”

The game then went into extra time in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The Aussies almost scored when they made a linebreak with 90 seconds left only for New Zealand’s scrambling defence to make a desperate lunging tackle 15m short of the line.

Then they plunged a cruel dagger into the Aussies’ hearts when Brazier broke into open field.

In a replay of their epic gold medal match at the Rio Olympics in 2016, New Zealand got the perfect start when Portia Woodman ran 70m and broke two tackles to score next to the posts.

Woodman was famously sent from the field for a professional foul in the Rio final won by Australia.

They scored again right on the half time siren to lead 12-0.

Ellia Green almost got Australia back into the contest when she snuck through the Kiwi defence and released Emma Tonegato only for the Aussie flyer to be pulled down 5m short of the line.

With three minutes to play the Aussies set up a grandstand finish when Emilee Cherry found herself at the end of an overlap and crossed the stripe.

The conversion cut New Zealand’s lead to 12-7.

Ellia Green then sensationally tied it up when the Aussies pounced on a turnover. Green found herself on the outside of the Kiwis widest defender and scooted down the touchline before running in-field to tie the match 12-12 with one minute to play.

Before the game, Aussie star Charlotte Caslick was spotted fighting back tears during the national anthems. The Aussie star appeared to suffer an injury early in the match and was not spotted on the ground.