With just over a week to go until the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series continues in Atlanta, we caught up with former Black Fern Melodie Robinson to get a commentator’s perspective on New Zealand's success, the improvement shown by Brazil on home soil, the teams and players to catch the eye so far and what can be expected on US soil on 14-15 March.
Melodie, two rounds down and two titles for New Zealand, what is the secret to their success?
The key to the Kiwis’ success cuts across a number of levels. The first is that they’ve managed to unearth some unreal talent! Portia Woodman, Kayla McAlister and Gayle Broughton are players that leave you amazed by their power, pace and, in Gayle’s case, their magical footwork. The other feature about this New Zealand team is that they’re superbly balanced across the park, you’ve got the speed and ability to break in the backs, ball players and then you’ve got forwards that do the grunt work but are also able to impact when they have space. Probably another advantage that these girls have, which some other countries don’t, is that rugby is the national sport in New Zealand, and everyone from the six-year-old playing Rippa Rugby to the old lady serving the sandwiches has a very good understanding of the game because it’s always around them or on the telly. The crossover athletes have adapted quickly because of that.
Portia Woodman (pictured) was simply unstoppable in Brazil, scoring a record 13 tries – what makes her such a dangerous weapon?
One key to Portia Woodman getting space to allow her to attack is that the rest of the team is doing the work around the middle of the park, or close to the rucks. The Kiwi girls also have good accuracy, timing and width of pass to get the ball out to her wide early, consistently. And in terms of her personally, well she backs herself, she’s actually not the fastest person in the team, Kayla McAlister is, but because of the threat Kayla poses inside her, it leaves the defence in two minds sometimes, and Portia is the expert at taking advantage of that and going for it! She’s got a great inside out and fend too.
DREAM TEAM! In case you missed it, here's the dream team from the #Brazil7s in Sao Paulo - thoughts? pic.twitter.com/62yYqvvJIg
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s)
February 18, 2015
Who else caught your eye in Sao Paulo last time out?
In terms of individuals, you can’t go past Ghislaine Landry, the pocket rocket out wide for the Canadians, Charlotte Caslick is a world-class ball player for the Aussies, Paula Ishibashi was great for Brazil and my new name to watch is Roela Radinyavuni from Fiji – electric and very unorthodox!
In terms of the teams that impressed, Australia is such a great side, they need more depth so they can rest some of their players throughout a tournament more perhaps, but across the park they have balance, good go-forward props, great speed, and they’ve got more names to come through too. Brazil were the surprise team and their coach Chris Neil has put a programme in place which is mirrored on the field because the improvement in their playing pattern is dramatic. I thought England went back to what they are good at on day two of the tournament in Brazil and used Joanne Watmore well out wide.
As you say Brazil performed well in front of their home fans, how important were their results given the country will welcome the world for the Olympics next year?
It’s very important that the host team that gets automatic entry into the Series and Olympics competes … sevens is a game for everyone, it’s still in its development stage for the girls, and for it to be a success at the Olympics it needs to be an even competition. It is definitely getting closer every tournament, yes the same four teams ended up on top after Brazil but actually the games weren’t as clear cut or easily won as the results suggest! Brazil Rugby are also putting out some great recruitment plans out of non-traditional areas so expect to see some new stars created for this team over the next 12 months.
What has the carrot of Olympic qualification added to the Women’s Sevens Series this season?
It has meant that the games are far more intense, the girls know that even if they lose one, they have to keep the intensity up throughout the entire tournament. It’s added more pressure, especially for teams in the European area because if you don’t make the top four then you have to go through the European qualification route which arguably has stronger teams in it. The Olympic carrot has also seen unions step up their women’s programmes big time, France for example are finally prioritising sevens and all their top girls are involved in the series, hence their fourth place so far after two tournaments.
Have France been a surprise package for you this season and what will it take for them to still be in the top four come the climax in Amsterdam?
France were very good in Dubai and they surprised all of the commentators there because we haven’t seen their top individuals all together before. The style they play is very French! Plenty of flair, reasonably unorthodox, you don’t see the same patterns used by Australia for instance which is wide to wide. They suffered a huge defeat by New Zealand in pool play in Brazil but seriously that was probably the best game I’ve ever seen New Zealand play, they came back showed guts and pushed the Kiwis hard in their play-off game. For them to still be in the top four by Amsterdam I’d like to see them add a little more structure, because individual play becomes easy to defend. But other than just slight adjustments, stay playing their own game, it’s unique! If they are to be there not only relies on them, it also depends on if England, fifth on the table, can play to their potential, or if the USA can turn their form around.
Looking ahead to round three in Atlanta next weekend, what are you expecting to see there?
I’m expecting to see a few upsets, I still believe Fiji will get better as the Series progresses, Russia has the potential to beat anyone, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the USA, at home, will find their feet. The competition is getting closer and you just can’t predict New Zealand and Australia will be in every final.
There are some tough pools with New Zealand and hosts USA together, Australia with France and Canada and England together again … how do match-ups like that whet your appetite for the tournament?
Very exciting match-ups, in fact pool play on day one in Brazil was probably a higher quality than day two because the girls were so fresh, so I’d predict these games to be huge. The USA tends to perform well against New Zealand and push them close, while Canada and England will be interesting as England need to try and finish top to get the easier quarter-final to improve their position in the standings.
The USA men’s team reached the Cup semis on home soil in Las Vegas recently, what would it take for the Women’s Eagles to do the same?
USA have the athletic ability to be world beaters on the sevens stage, but for some reason they haven’t found the patterns or style that suits them yet. Our commentators have mentioned a number of times that Jessica Javelet might be better out wider as she’s still new to the game and is not a natural ball player compared to say Charlotte Caslick. I think they should start Alev Kelter more, even though she’s a new athlete she has the goods to be world-class and needs more time to develop her instincts. I love it when this team attacks the breakdowns and uses their power to physically dominant. They need to find their style and stick to it! I’m confident they will hit their peak soon.
Atlanta was the only final not to be New Zealand v Australia in 2013-14, can we expect a break in the ‘norm’ again this time around and if so who would be your tip for the final and why?
I believe Canada is due a final, they performed well in Brazil considering they had one day to get over the travel after being stuck and not being able to fly out. They have a true strike prop in Karen Paquin and speed on the other side with Landry. It might just be a case of belief with this team! New Zealand are not unbeatable, they have up and down games, Australia are probably the more consistently performing team despite not winning a final this season yet.
Defending champions New Zealand have now won their last four encounters – all finals – with Australia, what do you feel is the secret to that run?
Quite simply these girls are mentally tough. Even when they are down and out, behind with a minute to go, somehow they manage to find a way to win. Now they’ve had those wins in the finals, there’s a danger of other teams “believing the hype” around the Kiwis. Convincing other sides they are beaten before they hit the park is a tactic the All Blacks use well and the New Zealand sevens team certainly have that aura around them too!
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