There were twists and turns aplenty in the opening round of the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in Dubai before Christmas and with players eager to impress in Brazil just six months before the country hosts the Olympic Games, this weekend should see more of the same in Sao Paulo.
We pick seven players we believe will have an impact at the Arena Barueri.
Ellia Green (Australia) – An easy place to start, but how Australia must be grateful the former sprinter went to a Pathway to Gold identification camp purely because her cousin wanted to and ended up trying out herself. The rest is history and she gets even better with each tournament, her eight tries in Dubai – where she dotted down in every match en route to Australia claiming the title – showing the damage that the ‘Green Machine’ can do to defences with her pace and power.
Portia Woodman and Kayla McAlister (New Zealand) – The double act (main picture) are reunited again after McAlister missed Dubai through injury. Woodman is a lethal finisher on her own – remember she crossed for 13 tries in Sao Paulo last year – but put the two former netballers together and they can rip defences to shreds seemingly at will. Both have been named World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year since the series began and New Zealand will hope both are at their lethal best to help fire them to a first final since Langford last April.
Ghislaine Landry (Canada) – Canada finished sixth in Dubai and will be desperate to improve that record before the series moves to North America for back-to-back rounds in April. The return of playmaker Ghislaine Landry is therefore perfect timing, the ‘pocket rocket’ who scored 10 tries in Sao Paulo and went on to finish the 2014-15 series as the leading point scorer. With the ability and vision to create something out of nothing, Canada will need her experience from the outset with a tricky pool involving Australia, Fiji and Ireland.
Marlie Packer (England) – A combative flanker and Women’s Rugby World Cup winner in 15s, this will be Packer’s first appearance of the 2015-16 series and England will want to see the 26-year-old at her rampaging best in Sao Paulo. Who can forget the way she hoisted Tyla Nathan-Wong onto her shoulder and charged up field with her in Langford last year? In case you missed it, here's a reminder!
Miriama Marawa (Fiji) – She may only be 18 years old but Marawa has impressed Fiji’s director of women’s coaching Chris Cracknell enough to be handed her series debut in Sao Paulo. A bronze medal winner at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa last year, the half-back and playmaker will take time to settle but could she be the latest star to come out of the sevens mad country of Fiji?
Edna Santini (Brazil) – She may, like Landry, be diminutive in stature but Santini is equally as fearless on the pitch and no challenge seems to faze her. One of the most experienced members of the Brazilian side, Santini is another who fits the ‘pocket rocket’ tag with her quick feet and turn of pace often seeing her burst through a gap in the defensive line. If Brazil are to reach back-to-back quarter-finals on home soil then Santini will be at the heart of everything.
What do you think of our seven? Tweet us @WorldRugby7s and let us know who you’re excited to see playing in Brazil this weekend.
