In announcing the Men’s squad for the upcoming Dubai and Capetown sevens tournaments, Sir Gordon Tietjens will have a sense of ‘redemption’ for the All Black Sevens. After being overtaken by Fiji and by the South African sides in 2014/2015 competition, the Sevens Guru will be hoping the excitement of the Olympic Games in August is not too big of a distraction–but how can you ignore it?
For many teams, the biggest prize of the 2016 season is undoubtedly Olympic Gold. True, but for Tietjens; who has tasted gold with the All Black Sevens at Commonwealth Games previously, the key test will be how his side prepare and perform during the opening segment of the upcoming HSBC Sevens World Series.
He will be well aware of the pot of gold up for grabs in August 2016, but “lets focus on Dubai first” will be what he is drilling into his recently announced squad.
Tietjens told the All Blacks website “I have set a goal for this team; let’s go and win Dubai. Let’s give it our best shot. We may or may not win, but I’d like to think we come out of this tournament with distinction, that we are on the improve.
“We have prepared well. We have planned well. Now we have to perform. An injury free side, we have no excuses really, and be ready to perform.” Tietjens stated.
To plan long term is only human nature, but it will be ‘one tournament at a time’ for both the Men’s and the Women’s sides who each announced their squads late last week, that will begin their respective seasons in the heat of Dubai on the 4th/5th of December.
Coaches Tietjens and the Women’s head coach Sean Horan, each have put in early work with their squads to whittle them down to the very best group to go forward over the 2015/16 seasons. Horan has the core of his successful team available, including a new star Niall Williams, sister of Rugby World Cup hero Sonny Bill.
They will be lead again by star forward Sarah Goss, Horan has stated “We have the mainstay of Tyla, Kelly, Sarah and Portia [in the side] and some up and coming players like Gayle Broughton and Hazel Tubic who have been going exceptionally well and we have some new blood too, so it’s a great mix to take into the first tournament of the new season.”
Established class plus All Blacks to integrate.
For the Men, internal competition for places should help with the groups enthusiasm. Not even a player like DJ Forbes has a confirmed spot, as each man will be tested hard by the opposition tournament after tournament [ten this season] but as much from internal assessment and competition.
Even newly promoted captain Scott Curry will need to demonstrate his usual high standards, to be selected in the New Zealand side. Just as Richie McCaw learned, you need to be the best in your position to command a starting spot first, before the captaincy assures you of a role to play. Forbes has made the sacrifice in handing on the captains armband, as younger men from within and invited All Blacks like Sonny Bill Williams, Liam Messam and Augustine Pulu contend for each selected 12-man teams.
The most likely to get a run by next weekend might by Pulu, who has been longest with the Sevens group. Tietjens told the NZ Herald “He’s got very good vision. He’s quick off the mark. He’s quick to spot a gap. He’s going to keep teams honest and he’s very strong and physical.”
In choosing a good sized squad of 14 players (with players like Sonny Bill integrating with the group in Dubai) that will allow for fully opposed training sessions to simulate gameplay. While not participating in the recent Oceania 7’s competition, Tietjens took the opportunity for his men to have a run against an Auckland selection. Valuable intelligence on the competition too, as they observed a fast and powerful Aussie Thunderbolts go unbeaten to win Olympic qualification.
Besides the introduction of such potential talent, Tietjens will have the selection of flyers like Reiko Iaone, Isaac Te Tamaki plus the grit and determination of Sherwin Stowers and the ever-ready Sam Dickson. The test of 2016 honestly is if the ‘Curry factor’ will bring a positive change within the group and benefit that players leadership role? or it will distract from his natural ability?
All these questions will be known come July. But for now [December 2015] there will be sense of ‘Sevens Redemption’ for the All Black Sevens. The men really want to reclaim the top spot off of Fiji and to hold off a fast and well supported Blitzbok side. And don’t count out fourth placed England or Australia, the winners of the Oceania 7s event held recently in Auckland.
The group assembled in Tietjen’s hometown of Tauranga last week before departing for the United Arab Emirates Sunday. The comforts of home will soon be replaced with an intense Sevens circuit where each member is a critical piece of a bigger game. Opposing them will be Ben Ryan’s Fiji–how the All Black Sevens react in Dubai will set them on their path to Gold.
A good start will help in the redemption for the much heralded All Black Sevens side.
The Men’s travelling squad is:
Dylan Collier – Waikato, Scott Curry (Captain) Bay of Plenty, Sam Dickson – Canterbury, DJ Forbes – Counties Manukau, Tim Mikkelson – Waikato, Declan O’Donnell – Waikato, Lewis Ormond – Taranaki, Augustine Pulu – Counties Manukau, Teddy Stanaway – Bay of Plenty, Sherwin Stowers – Counties Manukau, Isaac Te Tamaki – Waikato, Beaudein Waaka – Taranaki, Regan Ware – Waikato and Joe Webber – Waikato
The Women’s squad is:
Ruby Tui – Canterbury, Hazel Tubic – Counties Manukau, Jordon Webber – Waikato, Sarah Goss (Captain) Manawatu, Gayle Broughton – Taranaki, Tyla Nathan-Wong – Auckland, Kelly Brazier – Bay of Plenty, Katarina Whata-Simpkins – Wellington, Portia Woodman – Auckland, Niall Williams – Auckland, Michaela Blyde – Taranaki and Shiray Tane – Waikato.
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The HSBC Sevens World Series kicks-off in Dubai on the 3-4th of December and can be watched on livestream at worldrugby.org
Follow the Sevens action with coverage on Last Word On Sports with Jovilisi Waqa, Kyle Willoughby and Scott Hornell.
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