Hirini yearns for

Sarah Hirini wanted 2022 to be a golden year, she has one chance left to make that happen. Hirini made it her goal to represent New Zealand in sevens at the Commonwealth Games and World Cup this year, plus play for the Black Ferns in the 15s World Cup.

While she’ll achieve that as she, along with other sevens stars Portia Woodman and Stacey Fluhler, have been named in Wayne Smith’s squad for the upcoming tournament, it’s been a year of disappointments for Hirini.

The New Zealand sevens team picked up a bronze in Birmingham after losing to Australia in the semifinals, then earlier this month lost 24-22 to the same nation in the final of the Sevens World Cup in South Africa.

For any New Zealand rugby team at a significant global tournament, there’s only one medal that matters.

In a social media post on Monday, Hirini opened up on her disappointments at the Sevens World Cup.

‘‘As a very competitive person and rugby player I have high expectations and to be honest, I strive for nothing lower than the top,’’ she wrote.

‘‘We got so close again. So close but close isn’t quite there. I’m not a good loser but I’ve known this all of my life [so has my family] and quite frankly I’m OK with that. ‘‘Sometimes I wish I could see it as ‘just a game of rugby’ but I can’t. I love this game, love this team and love representing my country.

‘‘What a rollercoaster – the highs and definitely lows of sport.’’

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s test against Japan at Eden Park, Hirini said while it was gutting to lose in the final in Cape Town, she had to move on and not take those emotions into her new team environment.

‘‘That’s why I took a bit of time off social media, trying to not forget about it, but know that it’s there and then move on,’’ the 29-year-old Hirini said.

‘‘I knew I had to move on quickly. I don’t want to come into this environment, act like a sad sack and bring whatever happened last week into it.