Tietjens unearths fresh talent in sevens quest

Gordon Tietjens' production line of rugby talent spat out a couple of new names yesterday as the national sevens coach eyed some personal recognition.
Tietjens has unearthed another four young players to make their New Zealand sevens debuts in Dubai next week, including an 18-year-old Wellington schoolboy who will have to skip NCEA exams next week to make the trip.
Julian Savea was one of the stars of the week-long camp in Mount Maunganui this week, displaying the silky skills which have seen him selected as a midfielder into the New Zealand Schools team for the last two years.
The Rongotai College player will join 21-year-old Otago wing Paul Grant, Manawatu's Kurt Baker, 20, and Counties-Manukau 19-year-old Tim Nanai-Williams for their first sevens tour.
Bay of Plenty's Solomon King and Zar Lawrence have also been picked as New Zealand seek their ninth IRB world series title in the last 10 years, as Tietjens begins his all-too-familiar annual rebuilding process.
"What's really hit us this time is the injury factor - losing Nigel Hunt and Ed Coker has placed a massive hole up front," Tietjens said.
"We've also lost Victor Vito, Tafai Ioasa and Steve Yates and together those five were all a big part of our effort last year, right through the series."
What sustains him each year is the challenge of moulding another championship team, plus an uncanny strike-rate of promoting his talent into Super 14 and the All Blacks.
With another four former sevens stars making their All Black debuts this month - Liam Messam, Cory Jane, Hosea Gear and Scott Waldrom - Tietjens has now had 31 players push through from his squad into the 15s black jersey.
"I'm quite excited because sevens is a big part of the development of players in New Zealand and there are some young guys out here this week that have some pretty special qualities. That's what sevens is all about."
He's also in for some personal plaudits - Tietjens and team captain D J Forbes will fly out tonight for London, where they have been nominated for the IRB coach of the year and sevens player of the year respectively.
They'll then fly straight to Dubai on Monday to meet up with the rest of the sevens squad. Tietjens missed out on the coach of the year title to South Africa's Jake White last year and can see some irony in his team missing out on the equivalent New Zealand rugby awards.
"I thought the team had our best-ever year last season - we had 47 straight wins and seven tournaments - and it was a bit strange we didn't even get a nomination for team of the year here."
The highlight of the season will be the sevens World Cup, which is separate from the eight-round world series and will be held in a purpose built 50,000 capacity stadium in Dubai, named The Sevens from March 5-7.
NZ Sevens squad for Dubai and South Africa:
Kurt Baker (Manawatu), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau, captain), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Willie Rickards (Southland), Julian Savea (Wellington), Nafi Tuitavake (North Harbour), Paul Grant (Otago), Tim Nanai-Williams (Counties Manukau). Auckland's Edwin Cocker and Bay of Plenty's Nigel Hunt were not considered due to injury.