Black Ferns win Canada 7s
The new-look New Zealand women’s sevens team seem more than capable after they won the Canada Women’s Sevens final.
New Zealand beat Canada 17-7 in the final at Langford yesterday in determined defensive display, which was an impressive effort considering they were without five players on Black Ferns 15s duty, including captain Sarah Goss, and stars Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier.
With Goss away, Tyla Nathanwong was handed the captaincy for the first time and she said she was proud of the team.
‘‘We were missing a few experienced players, but it doesn’t matter who you are when you get given that black jersey and when you pull on that black jersey on you just grow another arm and a leg,’’ Nathanwong said. ‘‘You step up.
‘‘The girls they did incredibly well. All of them all the way from No 1 through to 14 were supporting each other and encouraging each other.
‘‘That showed out there that we had belief we could get through and we did.’’
New Zealand, who conceded just seven tries all tournament, are now 14 points clear at the top of the series rankings with one tournament left to play in France next month.
Two early tries in yesterday’s final to Michaela Blyde and Nathanwong sent New Zealand on their way for a fourth tournament victory.
And although they allowed Canada’s Julia Greenshields to pull one back before halftime, New Zealand’s relentless defence had the hosts rattled and they struggled to get out of their own half for large periods of the match.
Epitomising New Zealand’s effort was Ruby Tui who forced a turnover inside Canada’s 22m line with just seconds left to play, allowing Alena Saili to score out wide right on fulltime.
New Zealand had earlier beaten France 28-5 in the semifinals.
Coach Allan Bunting was pleased with the effort of the younger players in the squad.
He praised new players Alena Saili, Crystal Mayes and Jess Drummond.
Now New Zealand have an unassailable lead in the series, Bunting said there is an opportunity for the players who weren’t picked in the squad to go to Canada.