New Zealand Rugby Teams Shock Rivals with dominant HSBC SVNS Dubai Performance
New Zealand’s rugby sevens teams delivered a stunning upset at the HSBC SVNS Dubai tournament last weekend, exceeding expectations and signaling a potential turning point for both the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens programs.
Few predicted a double victory for the Kiwi sides to kick off the season. While the Black Ferns Sevens are historically dominant in the women’s game, Australia had previously controlled the opening round for five consecutive years, reaching the final undefeated. The all Blacks Sevens, meanwhile, entered the tournament following their worst-ever season, finishing seventh overall and reaching only two finals.
The Black Ferns’ 29-14 victory over Australia in the final was notably surprising given a shaky start to the tournament, including a loss to the USA on day one. This win was achieved with a team featuring a meaningful number of inexperienced players and key athletes lacking substantial pre-season preparation. According to a team spokesperson, the manner of the victory demonstrated a resilience and adaptability that bodes well for the season.
The All Blacks Sevens’ triumph was equally unexpected. Entering Dubai with three debutants in the lineup and grappling with an injury to regan Ware, expectations were low. they defied the odds, defeating Fiji in the semi-final and ultimately overcoming Australia in the decider. This victory marks a significant shift for a program that has faced intense scrutiny from the new Zealand media, public, and rugby analysts.
A period of painful but necessary change has underpinned the All Blacks Sevens’ resurgence. Coach Tomasi Cama made tough decisions, releasing experienced players like Joe webber, Amanaki Nicole, Lewis Ormond, and Andrew Knewstubb – the latter having secured a contract with Super Rugby. in their place, cama has integrated promising talent from the National Provincial Championship, under-20s programs, and schools.
“Consistency of player availability and injuries was huge for us last season,” Cama reflected.”We didn’t realy have the same squad from tournament to tournament, which highlighted our lack of depth and sevens experience. young players were learning on the go.” He acknowledged the difficulty of letting go of experienced players but is building for the future, particularly with the 2025 season and the Olympic cycle in mind. Cama believes in a long-term approach, stating, “I feel like some young ones will take two years and after the second year, I reckon they’ll be ready to rip up.” He emphasized the importance of consistent player development, acknowledging that relying on late call-ups is not a sustainable strategy.
Both Cama and Sweeney highlighted a concerning gap in sevens development within New Zealand, stemming from reduced resources during and after the covid-19 pandemic. The recent reintroduction of the Ignite talent scouting competition is a positive step,but both coaches agree that more work is needed to bridge the gap between school and professional sevens. “We used to play sevens at club, regionals and nationals, but some of these players are learning to pass left to right and where to stand, while at speed and under fatigue. It’s chaos for them,” Cama explained.
Sweeney emphasized the need to foster a culture where returning experienced players face stiff competition from emerging talent. “We have to coach the group that is in front of us now and what we want is for them to not make it easy for anybody coming back in. If it’s hard for Michaela and Gossy to come back, that would be the ultimate because it means the legacy has continued and evolved and we’re not relying on what we’ve done in the past.”
The new HSBC SVNS format, with its potential for rapid shifts in fortune, will undoubtedly present further challenges. However, the rejuvenated New Zealand teams have made a statement, demonstrating that the Black Ferns remain a force to be reckoned with and the All Blacks Sevens are once again poised to compete at the highest level. The Black ferns have flexed their muscles early and the sleeping giants of the All Blacks Sevens are once again rumbling awake.
