For Mils Muliaina it was a step back in time, but for Jimmy Cowan it was a step into the unknown as New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens put All Blacks hopefuls through their paces.
Muliaina has experienced the rigours of a Tietjens training session as a member of the gold
medal-winning sevens team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the session on the final day of a two-day camp in Wellington yesterday brought back memories.
"It was reminiscent of the good old days. There were times when you just wanted to walk off and give up but it was nice to have Titch there," Muliaina said.
For Cowan, the inaugural session under Tietjens was something to learn from.
"It wasn't too bad," he said. "It was quite enjoyable, actually, doing a hard session like that, but doing skills too.
"He's got some expertise in something different and he's been good."
Cowan said Tietjens provided a different perspective for the players and he stressed the need of being able to spot space and how to get the ball into space.
Almost all of the forwards in the 25-strong training squad sat out the Tietjens session but locks Tom Donnelly and Jarrad Hoeata completed the sort of arduous hour-long workout for which the 55-year-old is famous.
Tietjens was impressed with many of the players he had not worked with before and said Aaron Cruden and Richard Kahui could easily make the switch to sevens.
"There's certainly some quality players out there. I'd grab them with open arms if they fell out of the loop," he said.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry had good news on the injury front, with prop Tony Woodcock recovering well from a foot injury despite being restricted to gym work. Israel Dagg's recovery from a ruptured thigh tendon was on track and Isaia Toeava was due to return to action this month.
Colin Slade, out since breaking his jaw in April, will play for Canterbury in a Ranfurly Shield challenge against North Otago tomorrow.
However, Hosea Gear and limped out of training with an Achilles problem.
