It is a simple philosophy, take each tournament one game at a time, don’t look too far ahead and treat every match like it is a Cup final. But that mentality is at the heart of New Zealand’s success on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series according to Kayla McAlister.
McAlister, the former netballer who was named the inaugural Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2013, returned to the black jersey at the last round in Sao Paulo after a long injury lay-off to help New Zealand secure a second win from two in the 2014-15 series.
“It’s driven into us, as it is with Titch (Gordon Tietjens) with the men’s side, that every game is like a final,” McAlister told World Rugby. “We treat every game as a final, we don’t look at any games ahead, day one is the first game and that is it, then it is the second game and then the last game.
“Sometimes I don’t even know who we’re playing later in the day because I look at it one game at a time and just take it from there.”
The wins in Dubai and Sao Paulo once again see New Zealand top the standings, four points clear of rivals Australia who they have faced in six of the last seven Cup finals – the Kiwis emerging victorious in five of them.
With the top four to qualify for Rio 2016 come the Series climax in May, few would bat an eyelid at the suggestion that New Zealand and Australia will secure two of those places, such has been their dominance of women's sevens in the last 18 months. McAlister, though, is having none of that.
“This series is a qualifying one so teams have gone away in the off-season and worked hard on their skills, fitness and strength and that came through in that tournament more I noticed than in Dubai,” the 26-year-old explained.
“The last two series were about our team and our environment finding its feet and learning and this is the third series in and it’s the one that counts the most as it’s the Olympic qualifying one.
“But we’re not worrying about the Olympics at the moment as we have got to qualify first. One tournament at a time and we’re two from two. It’s a good start but anything can happen in the next four. The next one is the big one … the last two mean nothing going forward.”
McAlister and her teammates, though, had a taste of what Rio 2016 will be like after stopping off in the city on their way home to New Zealand for a spot of sightseeing, venue and accommodation visits and a coaching session with children from the local community.
“The girls were pretty excited as none of us had been there before,” enthused McAlister. “For me personally, sitting up at Christ the Redeemer, the view of Rio was pretty special. It wasn’t surreal but it kind of was that potentially some of us could be back there next year.
“The locals were awesome and it is pretty exciting to think next year will be the Olympics.
“There was a big turn-out of young kids from the community, the favelas, and some women and teenage girls too. It was quite special, just teaching passing and catching with some young boys and girls. It was different doing it on the beach with them but it was fun.”
"The next one is the big one … the last two mean nothing going forward."
New Zealand will begin the defence of their Atlanta title with pool matches against hosts USA, South Africa and Russia at the Fifth-Third Bank Stadium on Saturday with McAlister knowing that each opponent will provide their own challenges.
“We played USA twice in the last tournament, they have gained massively in skills and are doing really well so that will be a good test for us. I don’t think we’ve played South Africa since Dubai in the first series back in 2012 and Russia you never underestimate, they are a pretty good side too.
“It is a pretty tough pool as usual but we like it like that with tough games.
“I’m not saying we had a fright in Sao Paulo but USA pushed us and tested us as well physically and mentally so it will be interesting to see what happens in Atlanta.
“Our target, of course, is a win! We started Sao Paulo with our day one being the best that a New Zealand women’s team has ever had in this whole campaign, so we want to build from that so start well on day one and finish strong, then day two we’ll reflect from day one.”
