Rugby Sevens: Tietjens has two new caps in side

OFF TO DUBAI: Declan O'Donnell (left) and Ambrose Curtis at All Blacks Sevens training at Blake Park this week.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named two new caps in his squad to play the next two tournaments of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai (December 5-6) and Port Elizabeth (December 13-14).

Tietjens has gone for two 22-year-olds in Wellington loose forward Murphy Taramai and Counties Manukau centre Sam Vaka, who grabbed their opportunities to shine in camp at Mt Maunganui this week.

"They are both very enthusiastic young men who have really grown as sevens players in the last few weeks," said Tietjens. "They are both very skilful and understand the game really well for two players who are still young. Murphy is just very abrasive in contact areas. He's a great passer of the ball as well. The advantage he brings is as a ball carrier - he is very strong, breaks tackles and he's just got an instinct for the try line.

"Sam Vaka has also worked hard this week. He is very quick, has a lovely step and is very physical. He's someone who just has an X-factor and can score from 50 or 60m out because of his pace."

Missing from the squad named are Bay of Plenty's Joe Tupe and Matt Clutterbuck, who must be unlucky to have missed the selection cut.

Tietjens knows his team has to perform in the next two tournaments after a poor start to the series in round one.

"Gold Coast was disappointing and we haven't done particularly well in Dubai over the last couple of years," he said. "But I have a good feeling after naming the side. The hunger I saw out there [at training] was really noticeable and if we can start off in that first game and gather a lot of confidence we will have a good one."

Highlanders back Kurt Baker returns to the team for the first time since the World Cup in Moscow last year.

"He's a very good sevens player, very fit and understands the game."

The team departs for Dubai on Sunday.