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Watch: Blyde welcomes Colombia to Sevens circuit with first half hat-trick

Michaela Blyde run sin a try for the Black Fern Sevens. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Black Ferns star Michaela Blyde wasted no time getting to the try line in their opening match of the Canada Sevens tournament.

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The Ferns played newcomers Colombia in what was the opening match of Tyla Nathan-Wong’s 50th tournament with the team, making the 28-year-old the second player to reach that milestone with the team after Sarah Hirini.

Having won three straight tournaments, the Black Ferns sit comfortably atop the circuit standings (78 points), 12 points clear of both Australia and the USA (66 points).

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The team continued their hot form early on day one of the Vancouver leg, scoring 17 tries in their opening two matches.

Blyde opened the scoring in dramatic fashion within the first 30 seconds of match one and had crossed over twice more by the time the halftime whistle sounded.

The match would finish with a staggering 60-0 scoreline with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Jazmin Felix-Hotham both grabbing doubles. The Kiwi side backed it up with a 43-7 win over Great Britain in their second match of the day.

The All Black Sevens were also looking to continue some hot form after they claimed their second consecutive tournament win in Los Angeles last week.

The men got off to a flying start, claiming a 52-0 win over eighth-place USA courtesy of a Leroy Carter hat-trick. The All Black Sevens’ defence was operating in perfect unity and forced several turnovers.

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Elsewhere in the tournament, Australian Charlotte Caslick played her 250th match for the Wallaroo Sevens. Prior to kickoff against the host nation Canada, Australia coach Tim Walsh delivered an emotional poem he had written for his star player.

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“Ten years ago, she came to us at 17.

“She arrived a talent unseen.

“Uncompromising, elegant and ruthless.

“Resilient and determined, she is our empress.

“Now captain, she completed her internship.

“Look out world, next phase is leadership.

“Charlotte, you drive this team to make gains, experience, class and humility after 250 games.”

Caslick capped her milestone match with a try in the winning effort and currently leads the tournament in World Rugby’s “Impact Player” rankings, a culmination of attacking and defensive statistics.

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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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