“It’s a pure game of rugby; it’s adrenalin based; it’s a short sharp punch and it just has to be instinctive.”
That’s how New Zealand Women’s Sevens coach Sean Horan sums up sevens rugby, and underscores just how vital speed is to the game.
Sevens is all about speed. It’s a hugely dynamic game that moves rapidly, from one end of the field to the other, from side-line to side-line in the blink of an eye.
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“If you look at the form of sevens, it has a lot of space. To be able to find that space and take that space as an opportunity, you need to be quick,” says Horan, who’s coached the New Zealand Women to victory after victory in the last four seasons.
The “Sevens Sisters” have won all three world series crowns since the competition began in 2012, and head into the Rio Olympic Games as the reigning world champions. After two rounds of the 2016 World Series, they’re second overall.
“We’ve got some speedsters, and those speedsters have been able to give us a dynamic that is very beneficial to the way we play,” Horan says.
Every aspect of the game is quick, and there’s an array of different forms of speed needed in sevens. The speed of the pass; pace and acceleration; swiftness in decision-making; and recovery - how quickly you get up from a hit and start running again.
“To keep up speed, you need to be thick-skinned – to go into that dark space, and be comfortable there,” Horan says. “You have to mentally tough, so that you’re unleashed when you run onto the field.”
The power of the mind comes into play through the entire 14 minutes of a sevens match. “It’s not just about raw skill. You have to have a strong character be able to put your emotions aside,” the successful coach says.
A sevens player has to be focused on finding solutions quickly: “They have to be happy to work in a crisis zone – and work well under pressure.”
So much of speed, Horan says, comes from instinct. And achieving a high level of instinct comes from a strong work ethic. “Having a keenness to learn is crucial. You have to want it; you have to get yourself up every day. The work you do off the pitch allows you to shine on the pitch.”
But as well as the hard grind, an equally important team value is enjoyment. Horan stresses his players need to love what they do.
“It’s always been my core value of coaching - it’s the eyes and the smile,” he says.
“When you look into somebody’s eyes you can usually see what it means to them. And also the smile - that’s them succeeding on the field and off the field. And as a young programme, I think we’re doing that pretty well.”