Fiji are New Zealand coach’s biggest fear

Dubai: New Zealand Rugby Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens says Fiji will be the biggest threat to his side at this weekend’s Dubai Rugby Sevens, having lost to the Pacific islanders in the final of the first round of the IRB World Sevens Series in Australia last month.

Fiji beat the record ten-times champions 32-14 at the Gold Coast in October with the help of star player Joji Raqamate, who topped the event’s scorers charts with 59 points.

Now the Kiwis will look to stop the Fijians making it three event wins in a row after they also rounded off their 2011/12 campaign with victory in London.

Fiji currently top the World Sevens Series standings on 22 points after round one, three clear of holders New Zealand, but Tietjens hopes to overcome that early deficit with greater consistency over the nine-stage season, which they’ve historically dominated.

The All Blacks have won in Dubai six times, while Fiji have two wins here from before the formation of the World Series in the late 1990s.

“Fiji have probably got more strength in depth than any other country in the world,” Tietjens told Gulf News. “They lead the World Series currently and they’ve won the last two tournaments and they will be looking for a third event win in a row.

“England may have won the last two tournaments here in Dubai, but not many teams win events in succession in Sevens World Series tournaments. It’s been done a few times but its tough.”

Tietjens added: “They [Fiji] are, no question, my biggest fear. There may also be England, Samoa, Australia and South Africa, but Fiji is no question.

“Their biggest plus, like any Pacific island team, is that they know the game so well and the players are suited to the game of Sevens, that’s why they are so good. The amount of depth in all Pacific island countries is huge, whereas our country is still looking to build depth.”

Focusing on producing consistency over individual wins, Tietjens said: “Every tournament matters, but it’s the fact that we’re always there or thereabouts that’s key.

“These tournaments are all about consistency. We won three tournaments last year and Fiji won three. Remember in Sevens any injury at any time makes a huge difference to any team, certainly if they are players that have that added X-factor, which a squad is built around.”

Tietjens, who believes he has a stronger side available to him here than he had at the Gold Coast, said: “We’re coming here to win this tournament first and foremost. We did particularly well to finish runners-up in Australia with a really young new side and I believe I have a far stronger team for this tournament. We’ve just got to gel as a team. It’s going to be a tough one to win.

“I’m lucky enough to get Sherwin Stowers, Kurt Baker and Ben Lam into my side. They are all very good Sevens players. This is Lam’s debut tournament for New Zealand, he’s an outstanding player.

“Along with this I have the nucleus of DJ Forbes, Tim Mikkelsson, Warwick Lahmert and Lote Raikabula, who are all very experienced players. I think if this team plays to their potential we have a very good side with some very good players coming through.

“We’ve always enjoyed Dubai and have done very well here previously, winning the event a few times, but we haven’t done that for a few years and we’ll be looking to try and do it again this time.”