Hong Kong Sevens: Black Ferns skipper backing her side to beat Aussies ‘any day of the week’
Sarah Hirini will lead New Zealand out at Kai Tak Stadium with a third consecutive Hong Kong Sevens title in her sights
Sarah Hirini has backed her Black Ferns Sevens side to come out on top against Australia, as the pair prepare to battle it out once again in Hong Kong this weekend.
The two teams have history in the city, with New Zealand beating their arch-rivals in the final of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in 2023, and then again in last year’s semi-final on their way to winning for a second successive year.
But Black Ferns skipper Hirini, who has won two Olympic gold medals, said there was pressure on both sides to perform at Kai Tak Stadium, given the current make-up of the HSBC SVNS standings.
The Kiwis, who lost to Australia 26-28 in the final in Perth in January, have a six-point lead over their biggest rivals. And should they successfully defend their title again, they will go into Singapore, the last leg before the Grand Final, with at least an eight-point cushion.
And if the two do meet in the final on Sunday, Hirini, unsurprisingly, said she had “definitely got to back” her side to beat Australia.
“I’m not gonna say anyone else,” Hirini added. “I would back us any day of the week. And if we get to play them in the final, that’ll be pretty amazing as well.”