The New Zealand women's sevens team got to show off their paces at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park this afternoon.

As part of their week long camp in preparation for the Rio Olympics the Sean Horan coached side also had a hit out against a Western Heights High School sevens team.

The New Zealand women's sevens team warm up before their match against the Western Heights High School sevens team. Photos: Chris Callinan.

Sean told Stuff after selecting his squad he was confident he had the players and the game plan to do well at next month's three day tournament.

"We're Kiwis, and we don't like losing in rugby. We don't like the black jersey getting dented.”

The coach says he had some tough decisions among his forwards, but he's gone with a group with plenty of adaptability. Ruby Tai, Portia Woodman, Huriana Manuel and Niall Williams − sister of men's team star Sonny Bill Williams − can all play in both backs and forwards. "We wanted as many tools in the tool box as possible," added Sean.

He nominated Carla Hohepa, Honey Hireme and Kat Whata-Simpkins as the unluckiest of the omissions, while newcomers Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato), Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland) and Shakira Baker (Waikato) had earned selection on the back of outstanding debut campaigns with the "sevens sisters".

"They just forced our hand, and that's what you want," Sean says. "We wanted that youthful enthusiasm, that 'I've never been here before, I don't care, this is a rugby ball, let's just go and play' approach."

As ever, Kayla McAlister and Woodman will provide the chief strikepower.

"We've got to look across the field at how we play to put them into space. Our forwards have got to step up a little more, and we need to be more physical up front. We've also missed a couple of key playmakers in not having Tyla Nathan-Wong and Kayla for a lot of tournaments this year."

Sean accepts those fit and fast Aussies are the chief threat in Rio. "They're good, they're running fit, and they manipulate really well. They play a wide and patience game and look to wear you down. They strike into space pretty well.

"Their centralised programme has worked for them, and you can see they're playing off habit. You'd say they're our closest rivals and we're theirs. They're doing it well, but there's the old Muhammad Ali analogy of a rope a dope. Let's see what we come up with."

Clearly Sean feels his bigger picture approach leaves his group with a level to go to when they hit Rio.

"This year has not been just about going out to win ... we did it for three years, and did it really well. But this year we've taken a step back, and we've seen a lot.

"We've got to be fit enough, strong enough and good enough rugby players to adapt and react to what we'll see in Rio. But there will be a few things teams will see from us they might not be familiar with."

NZ women's sevens team for Rio:

Shakira Baker (Waikato), Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty), Gayle Broughton (Taranaki), Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland), Sarah Goss (capt, Manawatu), Kayla McAlister (Auckland), Huriana Manuel (Auckland), Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland), Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato), Ruby Tui (Canterbury), Niall Williams (Auckland), Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau).

Travelling reserves: Michaela Blyde (Manawatu), Shiray Tane (Hawke's Bay).

-Additiona reporting Stuff.