Pool wins crucial for Sevens teams in Cape Town
All BlacksDecember 6, 2024
New Zealand's Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens will be chasing pool wins in the changed HSBC SVNS tournament in Cape Town over the weekend.
A new format is being used in Cape Town. There will be four pools of three teams. The pool winners will go directly to the semifinals. Teams finishing second in their pool will compete in the fifth to eighth-place playoffs, while teams finishing third will play off for ninth to 12th.
Player welfare considerations are behind the changes made in consultations involving teams and stakeholders.
This format will be used during the second week of doubleheader tournaments in Cape Town and Singapore after the Dubai and Hong Kong events.
The change is to allow teams an extra day of recovery and preparation after the previous weekend's event and the travel to the second venue.
The Black Ferns have fared better after finishing second to Australia in Dubai. They head a pool with Japan and China. Kelly Brazier will become the fifth Black Fern to play in 50 tournaments at the event.
The All Blacks Sevens are drawn with Olympic champions France and the USA. After Joe Webber and Andrew Knewstubb were injured in Dubai, prospective debutants Fletcher Carpenter and Rob Rush have joined the side.
Dubai-winning captain Isabella Nasser of Australia said their win over New Zealand last weekend boosted the side.
"New Zealand are such an incredible team and great sportswomen both on and off the field, so it's always awesome to be playing in a final against them and to get the win was the cherry on top.
"We are super confident coming into Cape Town off the back of victory in Dubain where we performed well. We're excited to keep the momentum going in to Cape Town. We love soaking in the energy in Cape Town and putting it back out on the field. For many of our girls it's one of their favourite tournaments."
The Black Ferns Sevens squad is Manaia Nuku, Jorja Miller, Risi Pouri-Lane, Dhys Faleafaga, Kelsey Teneti, Justine McGregor, Mahina Paul, Theresa Setefano, Sarah Hirini, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Alena Saili, Kelly Brazier, Jazmin Felix-Hotham.
The All Blacks Sevens squad is: Joey Taumateine, Cody Vai, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Sofai Maka, Sione Molia, Tone Ng Shiu, Dylan Collier, Brady Rush, Jack Gray, Oli Mathis, Lewis Ormond, Fletcher Carpenter, Rob Rush.
