Sevens: Heat on Tupe in more ways than one

Joe Tupe is literally sweating it out in an effort to make the 12-man All Blacks Sevens team for the next two stops on the HSBC Sevens World Series. Photo / Andrew Warner

Bay of Plenty Steamer Joe Tupe is doing everything he can to force his way into the All Blacks Sevens team heading to Dubai on Sunday.

The Greerton Marist loose forward struggled alongside the other 14 hopefuls in hot and humid conditions at Blake Park yesterday as coach Sir Gordon Tietjens put his players through their paces before two trial matches against Bay of Plenty today.

The master coach seemed happy with Tupe's development.

"He's probably fitter now than he has ever been," said Tietjens. "He's got an opportunity to have a crack at Sevens. I've seen him play in the past for Auckland and he's been given the opportunity, gone out and done the work and secured a contract."

The competition for places is hot, with some players outside the group assembling this week still in the frame.

"I've got an ongoing catalogue of the players who are out there," Tietjens said.

"Matt Clutterbuck is the perfect example - we took him away for the first tournament on the Gold Coast because that was when ITM Cup took precedence ... he'll be one of those who stays in the mix."

Tupe was unsure of whether he would focus on Sevens or fifteens in the coming years, but had clearly benefited from the increased fitness required by Tietjens.

"You've just got to expect the worst with him, he can just pull it out whenever," Tupe said. "You don't know what to expect with Titch, and this weather doesn't help.

"There's a lot of competition for spots and all the boys know that. You've just got to bring your A game on the day."

The first of the two games against Bay of Plenty kicks off at 4pm today.