Sevens coach demands focus

The All Blacks Women's Sevens might have a commanding grip on the world series leader board after three wins out of three, but coach Sean Horan is far from complacent, and is demanding more from his side.

With three legs of World Rugby's Women's Sevens Series in the bag, the New Zealand side sit top of the standings having clinched all three titles and are eying a fourth in Canada next weekend.


The All Blacks Women's Sevens training at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Having trained in Mount Maunganui this week, Horan today named his fourth-leg side tasked with keeping the momentum going.

The team features three changes from the side that won in Atlanta last month, including the return of forwards Carla Hohepa, Charlotte Scanlan and replacement back Gayle Broughton.

Ruby Tui was not considered due to injury, while the Bay of Plenty's Morgan Morrow and Alexis Tapsell made way for Hohepa and Scanlan, who have recovered from previous knocks.

The upcoming tournament in Langford, Canada, comes after the first three rounds in Dubai, Sao Paulo and Atlanta.

Horan says while there are no surprises in what is an experienced team, he had to make some tough decisions while naming the squad.

'It was honestly the hardest team I have ever had to select,” he admitted, 'and that's just because of the internal competitive environment the players are creating.”

After punishing home side USA 50-12 in the Atlanta final last month, NZ will go into the tournament in confident mood ahead of pool matches against Fiji, Spain and England.

Horan says although the side has trained well all week and was looking in great shape, the team has still not reached its full potential.

'We are looking for a continuation of the growth that we are showing,” says Horan. 'We are currently leading on the points table for the year, but we have a clear goal in terms of overall performance and we are still not there.”

His side have increased their lead at the top of the standings to 12 points over Australia and Canada at the halfway stage of the six-round series.

They snuck past Australia in the Dubai final thanks to a last-minute try by Sarah Goss for a 19-17 win.

In Brazil they won in style again beating Australia 17-10 after a try from player of the tournament Portia Woodman sealed the win after the scores were locked at 10-10 in the second half.

They then routed hosts USA, in their first final, 50-12 with Portia Woodman dotting down for five tries in the title decider.

After Canada the teams move to London on May 15-16 and the final leg in Amsterdam on May 22-23.

All Black Women's Sevens side for Canada:

Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa (Waikato), Hazel Tubic, Charlotte Scanlan, Portia Woodman, Kayla McAlister, Tyley Nathan-Wong (Auckland), Sarah Goss, Selica Winiata (Manawatu), Gayle Broughton, Michaela Blyde (Taranaki), Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty).

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