Sevens: Bay winless in nationals rehearsal

Hawke's Bay sevens player Danny Toala had some good patches on Saturday. Photo / File

At first glance the Hawke's Bay men's sevens team's three losses from as many games in Mount Maunganui at the weekend makes dismal reading.

But it's better to have those losses a week out from the national tournament in Rotorua than at it.

"Those little things you can get away with in club sevens you can't get away with at the next level," Aerospread Ltd Hawke's Bay manager Tim Jones said as he reflected on Hawke's Bay's 19-10 loss to eventual winners Waikato and 24-14 loss to Tasman in pool play and a 20-17 extra-time loss courtesy of a dropped goal to Manawatu in crossover play in the 12-team tournament at Blake Park.

"Yes we competed well for 14 minutes in all of our games. It's just those little things like supporting and ruck clean outs which will be the difference come nationals. I think we can turn these close games into wins," Hawke's Bay coach Ellery Wilson said.

Both he and Jones stressed their young squad boasted plenty of potential. Wilson said Havelock North forward Teihana Brown and Napier Old Boys Marist speedster Sonny Lilo were the pick of the Bay players.

Lilo's hamstring concern and fellow winger Al Momoisea's rolled ankle were the only entries on the Bay's injury list but Wilson is confident both will be available for consideration when the 12-strong squad for this weekend's nationals is announced on Thursday.

"None of the 14 players we took away played themselves out of consideration and we've got 16 players to select the 12 from," Wilson explained.

A rule change at national level will see Samoan World Series player Neria Fomai eligible for selection after being ruled ineligible for the Mount Maunganui trip. His brother Ausage Fomai, who missed the weekend's tournament through injury, will also be available.

"It's going to be a big week of training as players battle for those berths," Wilson said.

There was plenty of interest in the form of 2017 New Zealand Secondary Schools rep and a star of last year's national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV Danny Toala. Jones said Toala had some good patches but lacked the necessary sevens fitness levels after his recent commitments to the New Zealand under-20s team development camp in Palmerston North.

Wilson pointed out once Toala sheds a few more kilograms this week he will be more of a threat in Rotorua.