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How Black Ferns Sevens channel ‘pressure’ to stay ‘hungry’ for more SVNS success

New Zealand's Stacey Waaka charges through the Australia defense on day three of the Cathay/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Hong Kong Stadium on 2 April, 2023 in Hong Kong, China. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

From the outside looking in, the Black Ferns Sevens couldn’t have really asked for much more in 2022/23. Other than a silver medal in Dubai, the New Zealanders won every Cup final that season.

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But they want more. With a new campaign getting underway in Dubai on Saturday, the New Zealanders are setting their sights on more silverware and rugby sevens greatness.

Late on a practically perfect night in the United Arab Emirates, Stacey Waaka walked down the tunnel at The Sevens Stadium with a near-trademark gleaming grin stretched across her face.

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Waaka had just scored two of New Zealand’s five tries as the reigning world champions overcame a tough challenge to down traditional sevens rivals Fiji 29-21.

But Waaka’s smile didn’t tell the full story. Fans have high expectations of any New Zealand rugby team, and those standards are driven within the team’s inner sanctum as well.

“Pleased but not satisfied,” Waaka told RugbyPass on Saturday evening.

“Our coach definitely said it was a rollercoaster day and it was. We obviously started a little bit slow, came back in the second and the Fiji game was so tough – and it always is. We always love playing out Fijiana sisters.

“It’s such a physical battle and you know who’s gonna win till the end so we love those games.

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“It’s cool for the fans to watch. People back home, we think, are up at 3 am watching us.”

The idea that the defending champions have a target on their back is a common theme across all sports in the world – that’s what makes the great dynasties so impressive.

Tom Brady’s New England Patriots, the legendary New York Yankees and the Las Vegas Aces’ current run in the WNBA are great because these teams and athletes achieve continued success that was once deemed impossible or highly unlikely.

The Black Ferns Sevens have experienced prolonged success as well, and that’s part of the reason they’re so likeable and impressive – they always want more and they’re willing to work for it.

“I think it starts from the culture and connection off the field,” Waaka explained when asked how the Black Ferns Sevens stay hungry after previous successes.

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“We had the longest preseason that we’ve ever had – six months since Toulouse. We did a lot of fun stuff, a little different training and we had a great strength and conditioning coach who made it fun.

“If you can bring your group together, stay in the fight, stay hungry no matter (what).

“We’re competing against each other every single day, our best mates, and you want to be better no matter what whether it’s in the gym testing, whether it’s a speed test, whether you’re playing against each other day in and day out.

“That’s what keeps us motivated, keeps us hungry individually to be better but collectively to be the best in the world.”

With fans both young and old cheering on the women’s and men’s sevens side from the other side of the world, the players in black are continuing to raise the bar even higher. The pressure is very real.

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These players carry the weight of a rugby-mad nation into sevens battle every time they take the field anyway, but the New Zealanders not only embrace it but thrive off the expectation.

But when the opening whistle sounds on the SVNS Series, or even when they’re at training, the Black Ferns Sevens know how to keep cool, calm and collected as they chase more greatness.

“I feel like it’s pressure no matter what,” Waaka said, still with a smile on her face.

“We have won a few things in the years gone but I suppose for us it’s just keeping our cool, staying focused on the task at hand, not looking too far ahead.

“We love winning, we hate losing – no one likes losing, right? You’ve just got to find little milestones, little challenges along the way to keep your mind ticking, keep the heart ticking and making sure that we’re growing and getting better each game.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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