Kiwis are on a mission to turn silver into gold, says Heather Fisher

NEW ZEALAND go into the Olympics as hot favourites to take the women's gold medal and rightly so, according to Team GB's 2016 Olympian Heather Fisher.

The Black Ferns Sevens have won six World Series titles, two Sevens Rugby World Cups and one Commonwealth Games, and the only thing missing from their collection is Olympic gold.

New Zealand lost out to trans-Tasman rivals Australia in the inaugural final in Rio five years ago and Fisher believes that will fuel their desire to go one better in Tokyo.

Fisher, 37, who was part of the side that finished fourth in 2016, said: “I think in the game of Sevens, especially at the moment with Covid, it's anybody's, however I cannot fault New Zealand because they have always been ahead of the game.

“Their talent and the way they play the game is phenomenal. For me, they are looking pretty sharp. Coming back off Covid, they are the sharpest team out there.

“A Kiwi will always come back hard if you've hit them so the fact that they lost to Australia in Rio will just give them that edge to succeed and be on a mission. Missing out last time will have really hurt them.

“What's been impressive is they have kept their form. New Zealand know how to win games and success breeds success.

“Some of the other nations could maybe challenge them, and GB could be one of them, but I just feel we are not so used to having that winning mentality and dealing with the pressure and holding it together when it counts.”

Injury meant Fisher was not available for selection in Tokyo, robbing the side of one of its more experienced players. Another Rio veteran who has been there and done it, Katy Daley- Mclean, is now retired from international rugby.

“I think we are lacking a bit of experience if I am honest,” Fisher added. “Without crowds, it might be easier not to have the experience though, because if you don't have to deal with the crowd and the expectation, it takes a bit of pressure off.

“It's little things like the comms are clearer because there is no one drowning out the noise. You can become really isolated on a Sevens pitch when you cannot hear each other and with a young squad that can be really detrimental.

“Hopefully, this young squad is going to emerge and show its talent. It's got great speed and great power and it's got some great playmakers, I'd say they are world-class. The one thing we are lacking compared to other nations is the time together.” As for the rest?

“As a player who has been in the game a long time, you respect every opposition you play against,” she said.

“Off the back of Covid, athletes and nations will just be really happy to be out there and will give it everything they have got.

“I think USA will give New Zealand a good run; they have amazing athletes.

“I think it will be really interesting to see how Fiji turn up. They started to emerge on the World Series last year and they have always been an amazing talented team like the boys but they have never really had the killer mindset to go out and win games. I think if they can get that sorted out, they could be a team to look out for.

“Australia are up there but they are a bit of an unknown entity with Ellia Green not selected.”

JON NEWCOMBE