New Zealand remember how to scrap to see off Canada in rugby sevens final
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New Zealand players celebrate winning gold after defeating Canada in the rugby sevens final at the Paris Olympics.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – New Zealand’s women avoided – just – the curse of being “too good” that dogged their men’s XVs team for so long, as they were forced to dig deep and show their ultimate professionalism in their 19-12 Olympic rugby sevens final victory over Canada on July 30.
Between 1991 and 2007, the All Blacks men were pretty much the best team in world rugby but when it came to the World Cup they kept failing, usually in the first stiff test they faced after cruising through their early games.
New Zealand’s women, however, arrived in Paris as defending Olympic champions and had won the last four world series tournaments in a row. But still they had to work hard, with the help of everyone around them.
“It’s pretty special. I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of the team around us, the people at home who have supported every single one of us, and helped us get to this moment. It takes a whole tribe,” said captain Risi Pouri-Lane.
“We’ve got some great players retiring after this tournament and we owe them such a lot. We’ve learnt such a lot from them, and been empowered by them.”
They began their campaign by beating China 43-5, then Canada 33-7 and Fiji 38-7. In the quarter-finals they chalked up an Olympic record 55-5 thrashing of the Chinese.
Their ferocious work were there for all to see but their defence was rarely tested.
So, in retrospect, they will probably be hugely grateful to the United States for keeping their feet on the ground in the semi-finals, as they had to battled to a 7-5 half-time lead.
In the second half, New Zealand took control to run out 24-12 winners but it was a reminder that in the short 14-minute burst of an international sevens match, things can turn quickly.
That was in evidence for all to see in the final as Canada, fresh from stunning Australia with a last-play score in their semis, scored twice in a minute to reach half-time 12-7 ahead.
The Kiwis regained the lead soon after through the irrepressible Michaela Blyde and a fabulously intense five minutes followed as Canada stood up and went toe-to-toe with their illustrious rivals.
For all the exciting speed and movement of sevens, this was back to the trenches of hard rugby.
After three days of battle and in gruelling heat and humidity, it was a remarkable display of fitness and attitude and, outnumbering the backpedalling Canadian defence, New Zealand slung passes back and forth before sending Stacey Waaka over the line to seal the 19-12 victory. REUTERS, AFP
