The Black Ferns Sevens are in winning form and continue to set the benchmark in the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, says Stan Sport’s Andrew Swain.
Three back-to-back gold medals place the side atop the series standings (on 78 points), 12 points ahead of nearest competitors and greatest rivals Australia.
A comprehensive win in Sydney saw the Black Ferns Sevens hold France scoreless to take the match 35-0, while tournament hosts Australia failed to make the final four on their home ground at Allianz Stadium.
Completing the weekend with a fifth-place finish, commentator Swain says the Australians choked at home while commending the Black Ferns Sevens for their stranglehold over world Sevens.
“The Aussies had a pretty ordinary tournament to be fair, they really choked I’ve got to say over the course of the three days,” Swain told SENZ The Run Home.
“But the Black Ferns were brilliant. It’s that new generation of women coming through isn’t it, the Jorja Miller’s of the world that really stood out over the last fortnight and to get (three) gold medals on the trot (is pretty impressive).
“The Aussie women not really picking up too many competition points over the last two weeks and really disappointing (showed) they’ve really got the jump on the Aussies now I think, the Black Ferns, and (are) bringing through that new generation of women as well.”
18-year-old Miller was awarded Player of the Final for her efforts on the field, but it was the whole team’s dominance that had Swain most impressed.
“They’re just somehow able to reinvent the wheel and excel at the highest level constantly, and we over this side of the ditch, we actually look at them in awe because they’re brilliant,” Swain added.
“We love our Aussie Women’s Sevens team as well and they’ve got some great new talent coming through, but the Black Ferns are really the benchmark at the moment.”
The Black Ferns Sevens will look to add to their three golds on February 25 when they head to Los Angeles for their next leg of the World Series.