CALLED-UP: Bay of Plenty's Dan Hollinshead is in the New Zealand squad replacing the injured Beaudein Waaka. PHOTO:FILE
CALLED-UP: Bay of Plenty's Dan Hollinshead is in the New Zealand squad replacing the injured Beaudein Waaka. PHOTO:FILE
Bay of Plenty first-five Dan Hollinshead has been called up to the All Blacks Sevens squad for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens World Series Tournament in Cape Town after Beaudein Waaka sustained an ankle injury in the Dubai Tournament last weekend.
Co-coach Scott Waldrom said the Cape Town tournament offeredthe opportunity to further develop the team's game-plan and give players important game time.
"We are continuing to develop the players and new structures this season that will service us better in the future. This week we have focused on improving our accuracy and understanding of these new structures heading into the Cape Town Tournament.
"In Dubai we started to see some improvements, but we lacked consistency and high level game time experience. This weekend we should see an improved performance and I believe this team is good enough to win if we get it right"
All Blacks Sevens captain and Papamoa resident Scott Curry said he wants to see more focus and dedication from the team.
"We want to step up our game this weekend. We learnt a lot from Dubai and we have been working hard this week to turn those learnings into an improved performance.
"The newer players got the chance to have big match experience last weekend. The combination of that experience and more time together to bed in our game-plan should see us do a lot better this week."
The team is: Scott Curry (Captain) Tim Mikkelson Antonio Kiri Kiri DJ Forbes Dylan Collier Iopu Iopu-Aso Rocky Khan Sherwin Stowers Jonathan Ruru Isaac Te Tamaki Sione Molia Junior Ngaluafe
