AB discards get Sevens lifeline
Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:02
All Blacks rejects Adam Thomson and Zac Guildford, as well as the in-form Hosea Gear, have been included in a 22-man New Zealand Sevens trial squad for the Commonwealth Games.
Coach Gordon Tietjens will reduce his squad to 14 next month for the Games at New Delhi, India, in October.
Loose forward Thomson and wing Guildford made the enlarged squad who will assemble at Mt Maunganui on Monday for a training camp.
They were omitted from the All Blacks for the upcoming Tri-Nations series against South Africa and Australia, while Hurricanes and New Zealand Maori wing Gear was unable to break into the national side despite strong form.
Tietjens has also included 2009 All Blacks wing Ben Smith in his squad, along with International Rugby Board junior player of the year Julian Savea, who helped New Zealand win the junior world championship in Argentina last week.
Tietjens said he was pleased with the depth of the players coming into the trial camp.
"We have a good mix of current sevens national squad members and quality players coming in from other national teams," he said.
Players not considered for the trial camp due to injury are Sean Maitland (shoulder), Tim Nanai-Williams (hamstring), Lelia Masaga (knee), Kendrick Lynn (groin), Jared Payne (ankle) and Scott Waldrom (hand).
New Zealand Sevens squad: Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Kurt Baker (Taranaki), Beauden Barrett (Taranaki), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Edwin Cocker (Auckland), DJ Forbes (Counties-Manukau), Robert Fruean (Canterbury), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Jason Hona (Bay of Plenty), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Fritz Lee (Counties-Manukau), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Julian Savea (Wellington), Ben Smith (Otago), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Sherwin Stowers (Counties-Manukau), Adam Thomson (Otago), Save Tokula (Waikato).
With thanks to NZPA
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