Dubai: There is arguably no one who understands the rugby sevens game better than New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens. And the wily veteran believes his squad's overall depth will be crucial in their quest to not only successfully defend the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens title, but also try and go one better than last season's runners-up spot in the IRB World Series.
"Six or seven teams could win any of these tournaments," said Tietjens. "You've got to start well. You can lose two players in the very first minute of the very first game through injury and it changes the whole complex of the side."
Squad strength
"So hopefully you can get through day one without any injuries and then day two. You need depth right throughout. To me, winning a tournament is not about just the seven players but the complete squad of 12," he added.
Tietjens' men enter the opening tournament of the 2010-11 campaign tomorrow beaming with confidence from their gold-medal winning performance at the Commonwealth Games in October, but also having to include six new faces in the squad.
Then again, the legendary All Blacks coach is in the enviable position of being able to do what he does best, blend youth with experienced guns like DJ Forbes and Fijian born Lote Raikabulla. "Lote Raikabulla to me is the best sevens hooker in the world," said Tietjens.
"He started among the backs and is now in the forwards. He's played there and won two [Commonwealth] gold medals. He just knows the game inside out. There are not too many Fijians who don't, that's why he's so good."
Samoa, the team that pipped Tietjens' squad to last year's World Series title, have had to deal with losing two key players in Uale Mai and Mikhaele Pesamino, but coach Stephen Betham is still counting on a good start to the new campaign. "We've set ourselves goals. The first goal we've set is to start well and that will be this weekend," he said. "That's our main focus at the moment. If we can kick-start well, then everything else will fall into place."
