Kayla McAlister doesn’t have to think very hard for words to describe her decision to go along to the Go4Gold programme with Portia Woodman to give Sevens a try, the instant response is “the best decision I ever made”.

The former netballer has taken to Sevens like a duck to water, ending her first season with Women’s Sevens World Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens winners’ medals and the prestigious accolade as the IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.

Worryingly for New Zealand’s rivals, McAlister admits she is still learning the game, drawing on the experience of players around her like captain Huriana Manuel and eager to keep improving on the road to Rio 2016.

There is also the small matter of needing to be on top of her game to maintain her place in the New Zealand squad with competition for places growing with every month as highlighted by the National Sevens last month.

“The Nationals were really tough which shows within our own country there are lots of challenges and players putting their hands up for selection,” explained McAlister, the sister of former All Black Luke.

Competition from within helps New Zealand

“There is even more expectations on us as players when we go into camp. There is a lot more competition for spots, there are more girls and it is not easy in our competitions so we are very determined.

“That is a huge benefit for us and our environment. There is no set seven or 12, whether you are a contracted player or not we will still have to do fitness tests, still have to trial and he (coach Sean Horan) will pick the best 12 at that time.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. The competition within each other, everyone is pushing for a spot in the team and I think that helps us when it comes to the tournaments.”

New Zealand will arrive in Atlanta next week in unfamiliar territory, having lost their first World Series final after Australia overturned a 27-7 deficit early in the second half to win 37-25 in Dubai at the end of November.

“That was tough but credit to them, they didn’t give up and we made a couple of errors and have been working on that,” admitted McAlister, who scored 10 tries in Dubai, including one in the final defeat.

Positive draw in Atlanta

“I think it was good for us losing, it makes you come back a lot stronger. It was a good time for us because we are going into a new year and I think it did us good. No-one likes losing. You can’t win them all but we were able to take a lot of things out in our review and we have been working on those.”

New Zealand have been handed a tough draw with England, Ireland and the Netherlands their Pool B opponents at the Fifth-Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University, but McAlister sees that as a positive draw.

“We haven’t played England since the World Cup and they will be tough as always. Ireland are a very physical team and showed that at the World Cup as well and the Netherlands are very talented athletes.

“It is a really good draw. Every game now is tough, everyone has had a year under their belts and knows what to expect, so we don’t see any pool or game as easy.”

It is that philosophy, along with the desire to enjoy the same success as the All Blacks Sevens have on the men’s World Series, that keeps McAlister and her teammates at the top of the game as the level of competition continues to rise in Women’s Sevens.

Tough to predict

“We try and win every single game and to play and perform the best we can. This season there have been a lot of different expectations, sides know what to expect now and a lot of teams are doing a lot of work behind the scenes.

“As we have seen with the men’s Series any team can win on the day at any tournament which is something that is going to happen in the women’s too. You can’t pick a team, no matter what form they are in, as anyone can beat anyone on their day.

“With a whole year behind us and every team experiencing the Series, I think we are in for probably the best year yet, which is very exciting.

“Last year you could maybe pick the top four who would always go from the pool into the play-offs. This season is a lot more competitive already.”

Coach Sean Horan has today unveiled his squad for the next two rounds of the Series with Portia Woodman making her return from injury and Taranaki teenagers Gayle Broughton and Micheala Blyde set to make their debuts in Atlanta.

New Zealand squad for Atlanta and Brazil

Linda Itunu (Auckland), Carla Hohepa (Auckland), Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau), Alexis Tapsell (Canterbury), Sarah Goss (Manawatu), Gayle Broughton (Taranaki), Tyla Nathan Wong (Auckland), Micheala Blyde (Taranaki), Huriana Manuel (Auckland), Selica Winiata (Manawatu), Portia Woodman (Auckland), Kayla McAlister (Auckland).