Kiwis chase 'win number 40'
Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:51
New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens has dismissed the notion that his team already has the title in the bag, after another dominant performance on Saturday, Day Two of the Hong Kong tournament, Round Five in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series.
The runaway Series leaders, New Zealand, scored 85 points - against Tunisia and the USA, while conceding just one try - on the second day.
The Kiwis have now won 39 consecutive matches and will be favourites on the final day, Sunday, to land a title which has eluded them since 2001.
However, Tietjens felt there is much work to be done.
"We had not played for quite a while after returning from San Diego and in beating Chinese Taipei by 50 points we were not completely happy," the New Zealand mentor said.
"Tunisia put up a stern fight and it was only 12-0 at half-time, but we could feel a performance coming and that came against USA, which gives us a lot of confidence heading into the final day [Sunday].
"I actually managed to field what has been my top line up for the past few tournaments in that game and they started pretty well. I also managed to get a number of the younger players onto the field after the break and that also worked out well, so it is all pretty good."
Tietjens said his team is only looking at their quarterfinal showdown, against Wales, and no further.
"What is really important is that we secure win number 40, so we are not looking that far ahead, so I have not really put win number 42 and the Hong Kong title in mind. However, if we win here in Hong Kong the title will go a long way to securing the series title.
"Quite honestly I think that there are five or six teams who could win it [on Sunday], that is how close it is.
"Argentina nearly toppled South Africa and they have not even qualified for the quarters, then there is England and Samoa and England are getting better all the time.
"Sunday is going to be all about taking the opportunities when they are presented and it does not matter whether you are the top team in the series or in the top three, you could get beaten by the sixth, seventh or eighth ranked teams, that's how competitive it is."
