Speedster Joyce showed her trademark sidestep and pace to cross for GB’s third try against the mighty New Zealand and at one stage it looked like a huge shock was on the cards.
But later in the game Joyce was also yellow carded and New Zealand turned the tables as they sealed a 26-21 victory in a thrilling game.
Nothing to see here, just @joyce_jaz doing Jasmine Joyce type things!
Watch and follow live on the BBC. pic.twitter.com/bWf7pzzpNb
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) July 29, 2021
Michaela Blyde was the match-winner for New Zealand after the Black Ferns recovered from going 21-0 down.
Great Britain raced into a three-score lead in the first half as Helena Rowland, Megan Jones and Joyce all scored tries in the opening five minutes.
However, the New Zealand comeback started before half time as Blyde scored twice.
Tyla Nathan-Wong then scored a sensational solo try midway through the second half.
Great Britain led until the final minute, but Blyde found space again to score for a third time and break Joyce and her team-mates’ hearts.
Earlier in the day, GB co-captain Abbie Brown scored a last-gasp try to help Joyce’s team beat the Russian Olympic Committee 14-12.
Brown ended with two scores in that particular match.
Great Britain’s women, who finished fourth at the last Olympics in Rio in 2016, will now fight for a quarter-final place in their final pool game against Kenya.
That game takes place in the early hours of Friday morning (03:00 BST) before the knock-out stages then begin at 09:30 BST.
