New Zealand's sevens teams believe they can handle the pressure of defending their World Cup titles in a new knock-out format.
Sevens World Cups Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Kiwi sides kick off their campaigns at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Saturday (NZ time).
The home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team has been transformed into a rugby ground for the weekend.
On a high after beating Australia 17-12 to win gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April, the New Zealand women are defending the 2013 title they won by beating Canada 29-12 in the final.
Ahead of their tournament opener against Mexico at 6.50am, captain Sarah Goss said the Moscow triumph was a "special moment".
Photo: Photosport
"We were an inexperienced team and it was incredible to take a Rugby World Cup home to New Zealand."
Along with their Commonwealth games success, Goss' side have won the last three World Series tournaments and are strong favourites.
Goss, though, said the World Cup is a unique challenge.
"It's going to be extremely tough with the knock-out format and the quality of teams."
New Zealand men's co-captain Tim Mikkelson, player of the tournament at the last World Cup, said the team had talked about winning back-to-back titles.
"We want this team to create its own history and legacy."
The team won the 2013 Cup, beating England 33-0 in the final, but this tournament has been organised as a knock-out competition from the first game with the winners advancing to a knockout Challenge competition and the losers in the pre-round of 16 going on to compete in the Bowl tournament.
"There are so many teams that could win and it will be the team that can execute under pressure; you have to play every game like it's a final in this knock-out format, so we need to step up and do the business," said Mikkelson.
Tim Mikkelson scored his 200th international try for the All Black Sevens. Photo: Photosport
The Kiwi men's first match at 3.30pm will be against the winner of a preliminary knock-out match between Russia and Hong Kong.
What you need to know
How does the World Cup Sevens work?
The Rugby World Cup Men's Sevens contest has 24 teams and the Women's has 16.
This World Cup is different to previous Cups and the World Series Sevens. Since 2016, World Series competitions have had a pool round with the winners advancing to a knockout Challenge contest and the losers playing for the Bowl tournament.
This World Cup has a pre-round for the lowest 16 men's seeds. The losers go to a knock-out Bowl contest. The winners move to a knock-out Round of 16 involving the top eight seeds, including New Zealand. In that contest, the top eight teams play off in a Championship, the bottom eight play a Challenge contest.
Therefore every game is important as it depends which contest your team ends up in.
The Women's tournament is more straightforward. Teams play a round of 16. The winners advance to the knockout Championship, the losers play a knockout Challenge contest.
What is the Sevens World Cup?
It is the world championship for rugby sevens. The first tournament was held in 1993 at Murrayfield, Scotland. When rugby sevens was added to the Rio Olympics, there was some doubt whether a World Cup would continue. But, after consultation, the International Rugby Board decided to continue it and hold it every four years, essentially between the Olympics.
In the Men's competition, New Zealand and Fiji have won twice; New Zealand in 2001 and 2013, Fiji in 1997 and 2005. England won in 1993 and Wales in 2009.
This World Cup will be the third featuring a Women's contest. Australia won the inaugural event in 2009 and New Zealand in 2013.
Who is playing?
The New Zealand women's team is:
Shakira Baker
Michaela Blyde
Kelly Brazier
Gayle Broughton
Theresa Fitzpatrick
Sarah Goss
Tyla Nathan-Wong
Ruby Tui
Stacey Waaka
Niall Williams
Tenika Willison
Portia Woodman
The New Zealand men's team is:
Kurt Baker
Dylan Collier
Scott Curry
Trael Joass
Andrew Knewstubb
Jona Nareki
Tim Mikkelson
Sione Molia
Salesi Rayasi
Joe Ravouvou
Akuila Rokolisoa
Regan Ware
