Defence a priority for New Zealanders
The objective is to defend titles, two of them, and defending had a lot to do with how New Zealand’s reigning women’s and men’s champions went about their business on the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Following bullish statements of intent by Australia’s women, beaten in the final a year ago, the Black Ferns played as if defensive about any suggestion they were there for the taking. They hared, harried and hassled to the end of what on paper were two straightforward victories.
The green-and-gold men, meanwhile, threw a defensive blanket over Fiji in what initially looked like the day’s statement performance.
By the time they had lost their closer against France, the rearguard action fought by the New Zealanders in coming through a spot of bother against Great Britain had taken on added symbolism, and so had their later humbling of Argentina.
“It is hard to stay at the top,” Michaela Blyde said of the task facing her and her New Zealand teammates, who this year are behind Australia in the HSBC SVNS Series season standings.
“We are chasing the Aussies. We are used to having the pressure of being chased. We have to maintain our consistency and stay calm. We have been in this position for many years.”
With an eye on the Olympics, she added: “It’s a good time to be winning.”
The Kiwis dropped a good few hints that they will take some removing from the winners’ enclosure tomorrow.
Leading comfortably in a 24-5 waltz against Great Britain, what stood out was a stubbornness, a refusal to accept a single cause as lost. Similarly, stretching away to a 33-7 romp against Brazil, the stand-out image was of defenders hunting down breakaways rather than saving their legs.
Blyde had plenty to say in the points scored column, too. It was she who stepped in, out, then away to the try-line to break the Brazilians’ own mini-resistance. Shiray Kaka, Risi Pouri-Lane and Jorja Miller followed her lead.
“We are making sure that our younger girls are getting more minutes on the field, and are comfortable and in a really good place,” Blyde said after starting her 50th tournament for her country.
“To play 50 international tournaments is extremely humbling. To do it once is an honour, but to do it 50 times is extremely special.
“And in a prestigious stadium in Hong Kong, the home of sevens, makes it that little bit more special.
“We’re going to do our best to win this tournament for our Hong Kong fans, so we can leave the stadium with a good memory.”
New Zealand’s men left it late as they started their defence against Great Britain, needing until the 10th minute to get on the board through Brady Rush, then stealing a 12-7 win through Tepaea Cook-Savage.
When they then not only beat Argentina, the men’s series leaders, but begrudged them a moment’s respite in a 22-0 walloping, it was clear a test of character had been passed.
“It’s a big ask coming out against Argentina, they’re a good side, but the boys showed determination,” New Zealand’s Moses Leo said.
“I think the boys are just hungry. [Argentina] have beaten us a couple of times before.”
Hungry. Determined. Ready to defend.