Forget last year - the New Zealand sevens rugby team are a lot wiser and more relaxed ahead of today's second Wellington international tournament.
The hosts flopped amid all the hype last year, well beaten by Fiji in the final after it was expected All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen would lead them to victory.
This year it should be New Zealand, Fiji and Australia once more at the business end in a wide-open tournament missing many top players with international and Super 12 commitments.
New Zealand captain Karl Te Nana said that despite player losses and inexperience, the side were better prepared to claim their home tournament in front of an expected sellout crowd of 35,000.
He is grateful to former captain Eric Rush who, despite a broken leg suffered during the World Cup win in Argentina, has had some key input.
"He's been good to keep the boys focused and relaxed. We got a bit too fizzed up last year and when we ran out we got a bit of a shock, and that's why we played badly," Te Nana said yesterday.
"The key is for the guys to get used to the atmosphere, they know it will be white hot.
"There doesn't seem to be as much pressure as there was last year. Even though we are world champs, we know we've got a very young side and it's going to be a big challenge for us."
New Zealand's biggest trump card is Lomu, who is fired up to make amends for last year.
After leading the team to victory in Argentina with three tries in the final, he admitted this week that he was near the peak of his powers and confidence.
"In Argentina he stepped up and revelled in that responsibility. It's the same here, he's really looking forward to it," Te Nana said.
"Last year he had a week to get ready and this year he has had a couple of months and he is strong.
"A keen Jonah Lomu is good for us and good for New Zealand rugby. I think he will really lift the boys and take a bit of heat off me."
Lomu, Te Nana and Jared Going are the only survivors from Argentina, while other key men will be forward Craig De Goldi and playmaker Damian Karauna.
The new men are Hayden Reid (Otago), Chris Masoe (Taranaki), Tafai Ioasa (Hawkes Bay) and Bay of Plenty pair Ross Martin and Nick Collins, a brother of Blues Super 12 loose forward Justin Collins.
A possible weakness is the absence of speedsters Roger Randle and Brad Fleming , leaving Te Nana as the resident flyer.
"To win we are going to have to be good on defence, and that's where we are excelling in training. We are having the most problems on attack which is usually not a worry," Te Nana said.
He is relishing the chance to lead the team for the first time today - having taken over from Rush in Argentina - when they take on Tonga at 3 pm.
New Zealand face Niue and Canada in their remaining pool games today, with the other feature games pitting Argentina against Samoa and Australia against South Africa.
The semifinals start at 6.40 pm tomorrow, with the final at 9 pm.
- NZPA
Players keep their cool ahead of sevens opener
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.