Kiwis go into competition mode
Fri, 09 May 2008 09:32
New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens will put his team into "competition mode" when the 15-man squad assembles at Mt Maunganui next week for a five-day training camp, as the Kiwis start preparations for the final two legs of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series - in London and Edinburgh later this month.
The Kiwis lead the IRB Series on 126 points ahead of South Africa (92 points) and Fiji (74 points).
The camp will be held from Tuesday, May 13, through to Saturday, May 17.
"This camp is important because we will need to get the players back into competition mode," Tietjens said.
"We were disappointed with our results in Adelaide, after such a good performance in Hong Kong, but we have put ourselves in a good position to win the Series and it is important to go into London with a positive attitude."
Wellington's Victor Vito will not join the squad and will instead concentrate on the 15-a-side game.
Tietjens said the decision to withdraw Vito from the Sevens team was made in the interest of his development.
"Victor made a tremendous impact on the Sevens team and the Series in his debut season, but a player's overall rugby development is also important and in Victor's case it was thought he should concentrate on fifteens-specific training over the next few months."
The final New Zealand Sevens squad (12 names) for the tournaments in London (May 24 and 25) and Edinburgh (May 31 and June 1) will be named at the conclusion of next week's camp.
New Zealand squad: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Edwin Cocker (Auckland), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Nigel Hunt (Bay of Plenty), Tafai Ioasa (Hawke's Bay), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Kendrick Lynn (Southland), Ben Nowell (Canterbury), Afeleke Pelenise (Tasman), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Rene Ranger (Northland), Chad Tuoro (Counties Manukau), Nafi Tuitavake (North Harbour).
