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'No excuses': What the Black Ferns 7s need to do better

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

After winning the Hamilton Sevens in front of their home fans last weekend, the Black Ferns Sevens travelled across the ditch for another chance at glory.

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But it wouldn’t come easy.

Winning has become a habit for the Black Ferns Sevens; they expect excellence and success every time they take the field, and this mindset has served them well for quite some time.

New Zealand are more than deserving of the champion moniker, but would have to overcome the might of the world’s best teams in Sydney to retain that status.

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The world’s best Sevens players took the field at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium this weekend, including a star-studded Australian side – who have a habit of challenging New Zealand for Cup glory.

But New Zealand came to play. The women in black dominated all three of their opponents in pool play, as they finished with a +78 points differential.

Then, in a series of sudden death clashes, the Black Ferns Sevens didn’t concede a single point en route to a Sydney Sevens title.

Sevens veteran Portia Woodman-Wickliffe had won her second Cup final in as many weeks, and she couldn’t have been happier.

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After receiving her medal – another one to add to her decorated list of achievements – the New Zealand Rugby legend was running around barefoot taking photos with fans in Sydney.

Woodman-Wickliffe was clearly thrilled with what the team had achieved, but still wanted the Black Ferns Sevens to improve ahead of the next World Series leg in Vancouver.

“I think just being able to switch on right from the first whistle,” Woodman-Wickliffe told RugbyPass.

“A lot has to do with the back-to-back tournaments. I think the last time the girls have done that was probably back in 2019, 2020.

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“It’s been a while since we’ve had back-to-backs, but still no excuses. Once you cross that white line, it should be game time.

“I think it starts back home on the training pitch, but you can’t really fault that final there, it was pretty cool.”

The HSNC World Rugby Sevens Series is back at the end of next month, as the Sevens world turns its attention to an event in Los Angeles.

But the women’s teams are set to return the following weekend in Vancouver on March 3-5.

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Comments

2 Comments
B
Barry 754 days ago

Besides Portia has scored more tries than Bryan Habana at last count!!

B
Barry 754 days ago

Finn you made a mistake in your article by calling Portia Woodman-Wycliffe a veteran which is a terrible slight on her as all NZ knows she is a LEGEND so I think you owe her an apology!!!

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

Players like Prendergast and Finn Smith already have a few seasons at top club level under their belt and are now test players, at an age when NZ players make their debuts in SR.

That’s just a difference in standards. You’re confusing SR for being their local domestic comps, where it’s more accurately comparable to Champions Cup, apart from that teams are happy to throw games as it’s in a bit of a limbo in terms of importance atm.


All these kids have been playing for a comparable NPC team for years now. Sam is no where near ready for tests but he has a great temperament, much like Sextons, that makes it a good choice to speed up his development. He wasn’t even a comparable Super Rugby starter before playing for Ireland, so not a great comparison.


Fin would be much better example, but then England don’t have 3 world class Test tens in front of him (not that I’d put Beauden their but obviously in terms of young NZ players chances, he is). Would he otherwise have debuted at the same age as Fergus Burke (injury and leaving withstanding), around 24, a couple of years later? England also aren’t as pedantic to who they give jerseys to, in NZ a test jersey is very hard earned for the most part.


In general I think the effects are as you say, but the only difference is the money involved, as you yourself said, their paths are just as all over the show being loaned out playing for clubs etc. My solution to that, and what you perceive as the problem, would be to introduce university football that utilitizes the large investment they have into high performance sport.

88 Go to comments
J
Jennifer Ross 3 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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Regards.

28 Go to comments
J
Jennifer Ross 3 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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J
JW 4 hours ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

JJ and DMac shows how little attention you actually pay to the substance of the articles.

What do you mean by that? For lack of an answer from you I’d suggest yuo need to look at the game again and then read your article. Because although I’m not going to again but I did quickly review the videos and they all match correctly with my perception.

JTPL is shifting towards overseas players being JQP in future

No they’re not, thats a flatout lie Nick. You can find an article on here with their CEO where they want more out of their deals but it’s standard professional sports fair, nothing underhand like the NH does. I find that quite foul that you would share such a view.


I suppose the new World Club League thats starting would die for the best ABs even for just a year, and probably set them up even better. Mo’unga hadn’t done enough to earn a sabbatical though. This is where NZR needs to start questioning itself. You can’t blame the player if the NZR are not even interesting in offering you a contract. In situations where say NZR aren’t able to reach 70% of the offer I think a great starting point would be for them to be treated differently than someone who just left for money. NZR could say make that player immediately eligible if NZR decide to make a fair offer and they sign to return, with players putting in their overseas contracts a right to leave early if they resign back with NZR.


Even with Japans fading desire for sabbaticals I still think NZ can make it a good destination and have many reciprocal agreements with JRFU and the JRLO teams. The situation still very much favours NZ and Australia but it’s upto them to make the most of it or the JRFU won’t see any reason to be the ones always giving the favours.

88 Go to comments
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