Los Angeles victory a boost as World Cup looms
Kurt Baker is naked again and with the World Cup Sevens just around the corner, it’s a sight for the sore eyes of Kiwi sevens fans.
For the first time since
Vancouver, in March 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic ground the sports world to a halt, the All Blacks Sevens are winners again on the World Sevens Series – thanks to a thrilling 28-21 win over
Fiji in the Los Angeles decider yesterday.
Baker, a non-travelling reserve for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, described his year as ‘‘interesting’’ but for the 33-year-old veteran to be recalled for a tournament win on the eve of the World Cup and play a starring role in the final in his 50th tournament, things are definitely on the up.
So much so, he climbed onto the shoulders of wounded team-mate Leroy Carter to complete his traditional naked celebration.
For Baker, New Zealand’s first tournament victory in the final World Series event of the year, was more satisfying for the way it happened rather than his own personal milestone.
‘‘We had our backs against the wall,’’ he said.
The All Blacks Sevens lost players before and during the tournament to injury, were forced to produce a come-from-behind win in their semifinal against Samoa before securing victory and going on to win a tense final against Fiji .
It’s exciting to feel the winning vibe again but Baker said the importance of getting it just before heading into the World Cup couldn’t be overstated.
‘‘We’ve found in the past that winning breeds winning,’’ Baker said.
Coach Clark Laidlaw, who was proud of the grit, resilience and determination the group showed, said the players who had not experienced tournament victory previously, were now in a position to genuinely appreciate what is required.
Following the win in Los Angeles, Laidlaw feels his players now believe they are capable of lifting the World Cup in Cape Town. But the duckbreaking win has come at a cost.
Roderick Solo will miss the World Cup due to a dislocated shoulder, while Carter has suffered a leg injury during a freak training accident and will also be ruled out.
Che Clark and co-captain Joe Webber suffered injuries on the final day with Clark unlikely to make the World Cup and Webber in some doubt.
That comes on top of Tim Mikkelson, Scott Curry, Rhodes Featherstone, Kitiona Vai and Andrew Knewstubb missing the Los Angeles tournament due to injury.