Jorja Miller of New Zealand at the Cape Town Sevens, 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The New Zealand Sevens teams are still searching for their first tournament titles of the new World Series.
The Black Ferns Sevens finished third and the All Black Sevens fifth in the second round in Cape Town.
Last week the women were beaten finalists and the men were third in Dubai.
Australia top the women's standings after winning both tournaments with France and New Zealand six points back in a share of second.
Argentina top the men's standings after winning in Cape Town, while New Zealand are ten points back in fourth.
The Black Ferns were beaten 24-12 by France in their semi-final and they then beat the USA 19-7 in the play-off for third, while the All Blacks lost 36-21 to Ireland in the quarter-finals and then beat South Africa 31-7 in the fifth place play-off.
Black Ferns Sevens player Stacey Waka told Sky Sport there's no need to panic for the defending series champions as they try to find some consistency.
"I think it's a bit of a mindset," she said.
We've changed our team around a lot which is good, the depth in the squad is awesome.
"We need to start clicking and we've got time, Perth Sevens is a month away and we know what to work on and we'll go home and do that."
The Perth round is on January 26-28.