Bay of Plenty's Michaela Blyde in action for the Black Ferns Sevens. Photo / Photosport
Bay of Plenty's Michaela Blyde in action for the Black Ferns Sevens. Photo / Photosport
Black Ferns Sevens coach Allan Bunting has named a strong squad to travel to the Paris Sevens as the team aims to win back-to-back HSBC Women's Sevens World Series titles.
The Black Ferns Sevens head into the next tournament with World Series victories in Kitakyushu in Japan and Langford, includinga record 46-0 win against Australia in the Canada final.
"Sometimes it all goes right in a match, but it certainly won't always go like that and we know complacency is the death of success. We had a few matches where we struggled to get through against Fiji and England so there are things to work on," Rotorua local Bunting says.
The only change to the squad from the last tournament is the inclusion of Shiray Kaka (nee Tane), after last playing for the Black Ferns Sevens in 2016.
"Shiray is an electric player and it's great to have her back. Michaela Blyde has been consistent for us in recent times, but we need another winger and Shiray has trained hard.
"She's fit, prepared and ready to get back into it," Bunting says.
Only four points behind Australia in the standings, the Black Ferns Sevens will need to win the Paris event and hope that Australia do not progress to the final if the New Zealanders are to claim back-to-back World Series titles.
"We've only lost two games this series but losing the quarter-final in Dubai really gutted us. Now, we can only take care of what we can control which is to play our best game by game."
The squad left New Zealand on Tuesday, looking to use the extra time in France to acclimatise and recover.
"Instead of having an assembly in New Zealand, we travel earlier and that gives us the opportunity to be 100 per cent ready to go come tournament time," Bunting says.
Black Ferns Sevens squad: Shakira Baker Waikato, Michaela Blyde Bay of Plenty, Kelly Brazier Bay of Plenty, Gayle Broughton Taranaki, Theresa Fitzpatrick Auckland, Sarah Goss Manawatu, Tyla Nathan-Wong Auckland, Shiray Kaka Waikato, Ruby Tui Bay of Plenty, Stacey Waaka Waikato, Niall Williams Auckland, Tenika Willison Waikato, Portia Woodman Counties Manukau
