Gordon Tietjens may have come second to countryman Graham Henry in the battle to land the IRB Coach of the Year award last weekend, but in the world of Sevens he is the undisputed number one.

With eight World Series titles, a Sevens World Cup and three Commonwealth golds already tucked safely in the cabinet, the 52-year-old has nothing to prove but is showing no signs of slowing down ahead of yet another new season.

In the 14 years since he took over as kiwi Sevens supremo, Tietjens has helped transform 31 promising youngsters into All Blacks, most notably the likes of Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Mils Muliaina but more recently Liam Messam, Adam Thomson and Rudi Wulf.

"We've had a lot of success and just working with new, young players really excites me. Sevens is doing wonders as a development tool for New Zealand rugby and this year I've got a lot of new players again, and that's why I retain my enthusiasm," he said.


Tietjens has named four new players in his squad ahead of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens, the first in the 10th Anniversary World Series. Paul Grant, Tim Tanai-Williams, Kurt Baker and 18-year-old Julian Savea will all taste top level action for the first time, in addition to Tim Mikkelson and Nafi Tuitavake who only came into the squad in the latter half of last season.

"There's a lot of homework that goes into selecting these new players," admitted Tietjens.

The secret to success

"You never judge a player on one performance for a start, and then they've got to be interested in Sevens, they've got to have a good skill set and they've got to have a work ethic."

The work ethic is key. It implies a willingness to fall into line with the coach's extreme fitness demands. Season after season, Tietjens' players are the fittest out there.

"It's all true, his training is the hardest I've done and probably the toughest out there," said captain DJ Forbes.

"The food we eat is pretty much rabbit food and there are no desserts. It's all part of being professional and the results speak for themselves."

Tietjens added: "We've worked very hard since we got here and also we've been training early to adjust to the playing times. One of the players had to stop because he became quite dizzy. I look for every player to empty the tank.

A culture of discipline

"Being mentally tough is also important to me, they've got to be unified as a team, have passion for whom they represent and for wearing the New Zealand Sevens jersey, also adhere to the discipline. Those are the four main qualities I look for, and together they create a culture, which is second to none."


While retaining a quiet confidence in his team, which will once again be led by the outstanding Forbes and features regulars in Solomon King, Lote Raikabula, Tomasi Cama and Zar Lawrence, Tietjens holds that as many as seven teams can harbour genuine hopes of winning the first title in Dubai's new stadium 'The Sevens'.

"Samoa have got a terrific side, Fiji of course, South Africa, England, it's a challenge and on the first day of the new World Series it's a step into the unknown. We play Wales first up and to us it's a final, the first of hopefully six, and they are also here with a very good set of players."

Mention of the World Cup next March - also here in Dubai - brings an added sparkle but, having won six of the eight events on the Series last year, does Tietjens not fear that the World Cup has arrived a season too late, or - God forbid - that New Zealand have peaked too soon?

"No, it comes around every four years and it's very special. It's completely different and I'll have access to some Super 14 players, if I believe they can make the transition in the short space of time.

"Here first and foremost it's about getting the experience for some of these new younger players and no doubt every one of them has got a goal to make the team to go to that World Cup."

IRB

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