Experience to fore in NZ women’s team
New Zealand women’s sevens coach Allan Bunting has named a side packed with experience for the closing round of the World Series in Paris this weekend.
Trailing Australia by four points in the overall competition points standings, the Black Ferns Sevens team needs to finish two places ahead of Australia if it is to claim back-to-back titles and its fifth overall.
‘‘There is a bit on the line but we have to take it game by game; we have to get out of our pool first,’’ Bunting said.
‘‘We’ve got a tough one. England first up, Wales, who we don’t know much about and then Ireland who have done well in the last few tournaments.’’
There are two changes to the team that lifted the Langford Sevens title last month, with the return of Gayle Broughton and Shiray Kaka (nee Tane) who last played for the Black Ferns Sevens team in 2016.
‘‘We need to develop the talent we have on the wing,’’ Bunting said.
‘‘We have Michaela [Blyde] who is relentless and reliable. But we need depth there so this is an opportunity for Shiray to come back and show what she can do.’’
Kaka said the game had progressed a lot in two years and that she was looking forward to running out with the team again.
Earlier this year, Kaka married former All Blacks Sevens player Gillies Kaka.
‘‘I’m looking forward to wearing my husband’s last name on my jersey. I get to wear Kaka for the first time, hopefully I get a bit of razzle into my game while I’m wearing it,’’ Kaka said.
It is the first time the women have played in France, and Bunting said they had enjoyed their time in Paris in the build up.
‘‘The players are really excited about being in Paris, we know what rugby means to the French, they love it. It’s going to be a really special occasion.’’