As the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 kicks off in San Francisco, All Blacks Sevens captain Tim Mikkelson and Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Goss have declared their teams ready to defend their titles.
Aiming to take back-to-back titles for the first time in the history of the tournament, the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens get their campaigns underway at AT&T Park on Friday night (UAE time)
Speaking after Thursday’s Captain’s Run, All Blacks co-captain Tim Mikkelson, player of the tournament at the 2013 Rugby World Cup, said there are similarities between the team in San Francisco and the team that won the last title in Moscow.
“We’ve been preparing really well,” he said.
“We have a great group of guys in our team who have worked extremely hard and hopefully if we play well across four games, we’ll get the title again.
“Going back-to-back is something we’ve talked about. We want this team to create its own history and legacy.
“There are so many teams that could win and it will be the team that can execute under pressure; you have to play every game like it’s a final in this knock-out format, so we need to step up and do the business.”
GAME DAY! The #BlackFerns7s will kick off their 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens campaign off in just a few hours!
— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) July 20, 2018
Tune in LIVE on @TVNZDUKE at 6.50am NZT to see us take on Mexico#RWC7s pic.twitter.com/jYtEX9tHBi
Having won alongside the Black Ferns Sevens in 2013 and again at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, Mikkelson said it certainly adds to the experience.
“Our teams train in the same facilities so we know how hard each other work every day, so to get a result alongside the women is awesome,” he continued.
“Hopefully we can do it again.”
Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Goss echoed Mikkelson’s sentiment, with fond memories of victories in Moscow and Gold Coast.
“Moscow was a special moment, we were an inexperienced team and it was incredible to take a Rugby World Cup home to New Zealand,” she said.
“Sharing success with the men is amazing – we train day in, day out for the same thing, so I hope we can do it again this weekend.”
The Black Ferns Sevens come into the Rugby World Cup in fine form, winning the last three World Series tournaments, but Goss said the challenge ahead is unique.
“It’s going to be extremely tough with the knock-out format and the quality of teams. We have prepared well and know we need to be at our best if we are going to win,” said Goss.
They won it in 2013, but will the @AllBlacks7s retain their title at Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco?
— Rugby World Cup Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) July 19, 2018
We caught up with Tim Mikkelson at the famous Roxie Theatre in San Francisco - to reflect on New Zealand's previous #RWC7s glory pic.twitter.com/p7IviZgoXl
The Black Ferns Sevens face Mexico in their opening match of the World Cup on Friday night. Should they advance from that match they will play a quarterfinal later that day.
The All Blacks Sevens play the winner of Russia v Hong Kong in their first match Saturday morning (06.31 UAE time). All games are live on OSN Sports Action 4
The All Blacks Sevens team is;
Kurt Baker
Dylan Collier
Scott Curry – captain
Trael Joass
Andrew Knewstubb
Jona Nareki
Tim Mikkelson – captain
Sione Molia
Salesi Rayasi
Joe Ravouvou
Akuila Rokolisoa
Regan Ware
The Black Ferns Sevens team is;
Shakira Baker
Michaela Blyde
Kelly Brazier
Gayle Broughton
Theresa Fitzpatrick
Sarah Goss – captain
Tyla Nathan-Wong
Ruby Tui
Stacey Waaka
Niall Williams
Tenika Willison
Portia Woodman