Dubai: New Zealand will have to treat every match like the final, according to Gordon Tietjens, the legendary Kiwi coach whose team will be trying to regain the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens title this time.
"The tournament has become much more competitive over the years and each team has to be in peak physical condition to be able to pull it off," he said.
Speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the official launch of the event, the man who has led New Zealand to more Sevens World Series titles than anybody else said that over the years the gap has narrowed between the so-called top teams and the rest of the pack.
A major superpower in all forms of the game, New Zealand are possibly feeling the pinch as they had to remain content with a fourth place finish in the Sevens World Series standings last season.
Even though they are the only team to have won the Dubai event four times on-the-trot during the late nineties to 2002, Tietjens offers no guarantee on regaining the crown on the 40th year of the event.
Clubbed in Group D alongwith World Cup Sevens finalists Argentina, Portugal and France, he believes the group is wide open.
"We have some seven new faces in the squad and while there is tremendous potential among these boys, they have to show the right attitude and gel as a team to go all the way," he said.
Asked to pick some of the potential stars among the current crop, the coach said: "Be on the lookout for the likes of Baxton Popoalili, Sherwin Stowers and Toby Arnold."
Aprt from the new-look squad, Tietjens' other worry is the lack of match practise before embarking into the 2009-10 season. "We are underdone, having had no warm-up tournaments, which is a concern," he said Tietjens.
The coach felt that the inclusion in the Olympics fold has given the Sevens format a big shot in the arm. "While there are fewer countries in the 15's game, which has become more defensively driven these days, Sevens is bound to grow in popularity from here onwards. The players are more athletic and possess allround skill sets — something that is good from the spectators' point of view.
A familiar hand at the Dubai Rugby Sevens, Tietjens is happy the tournament has stepped into its 40th year.
"I have been to the new venue earlier this year, where the facilities are simply outstanding. I must also thank the Emirates Group for their unwavering support to the game," he added.
