Sevens series sets scene for Rio

BIG SERIES: Gordon Tietjens (centre), All Blacks Sevens coach, watches on yesterday during his team's training for their series with Australia in Rotorua. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Titch keeps eagle eye on talent with six major matches against the Aussies

Curtain-raisers don't come much bigger than this.

The All Blacks Sevens team will run on to Rotorua International Stadium at 4.30 this afternoon to play the Australian side.

The fixture is part of a six-game pre-season series between the two countries, with today's match doubling as a curtain-raiser for the Bay of Plenty Steamers versus Taranaki ITM Cup match.

Gordon Tietjens' men are preparing for their summer season and the series this weekend in Rotorua will replicate the Rio Olympics schedule for next year.

Coach Tietjens explained that in Rio next year they would be staying about an hour away from the venue and would also be playing up to six games over three days. As a result, the group will play six games against the Aussies over three days in Rotorua, starting today, and have been travelling to and from Mount Maunganui each day rather than stay put in Rotorua.

"We will see how we come out of these games this weekend with all the travel and everything I suppose, which is going to be good for us going forward to Rio," he said.

It was also a chance for younger players, such as Rotorua's Isaac Te Aute, to show what they could do against international opposition.

"It has given me an opportunity to view some new young players that I have never seen before in terms of playing at this level, and a good measure is to play someone like Australia who are looking to qualify for the Olympics," Tietjens said.

It was a special season ahead for sevens in New Zealand, with the sport debuting at the Olympics next August.

"I've been to five Commonwealth Games and enjoyed every one of those and obviously going to the Olympics is the pinnacle for me as a coach," he said. "It will be a challenging year ahead as we have 10 tournaments in the world series plus three other tournaments we are involved in as well."

All Blacks Sevens players involved with ITM Cup teams and the All Blacks are not available this weekend, but Tietjens has a strong squad of about 17 players from which to choose.

The Australian Sevens team are still to qualify for the Olympics and will be using this weekend's tournament as a warm-up for their qualifiers in Auckland in November.

The first match in the series today is closed to the public.

However, the matches tomorrow and Monday are free to attend at the stadium.