New Zealand face tough task at Dubai sevens

11.45am

Wellington - New Zealand will have to do without the guidance of such players as Eric Rush, Craig De Goldi and Karl Te Nana when they begin their world sevens rugby series campaign in Dubai tomorrow.

The injured trio will also miss next weekend's second tournament in series in South Africa.

However, team manager Tony Ward believes Amasio Valence will step into their shoes as they chase their fourth consecutive Dubai title from tomorrow.

"Rush's injury is a big blow for us, but we will depend on other good players like Amasio Valence who I think is one of the best sevens players in the world," Ward said.

"It definitely won't be easy as the competition is getting harder and harder each year."

Despite the injuries, Ward said his team were determined to continue their dominance of the world series at the Dubai Exiles Club.

New Zealand beat South Africa in the final last year.

They are drawn in Group A alongside Samoa, France and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand, Fiji, England and South Africa are the top seeds in their respective groups and are the bookmakers' favourites to progress to the quarterfinals.

Much is expected from the English side, winners of the 2002 Hong Kong Sevens title.

"Any one team is capable of beating any other team, England coach Joe Lydon said.

"We have a very good team and I hope we can prove ourselves on the pitch," he said.

Fijian coach Senivalati Laulau and his South African counterpart Chester Williams played down their chances, saying they have young and fairly inexperienced sides.

Laulau, one of the best sevens players in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Fiji dominated the Hong Kong tournament, was appointed coach of his country this year.

The Fijians have been disappointing in the last three seasons as their sevens game stagnated and New Zealand thrived under Gordon Tietjens.

Laulau has picked his squad on merit this year and has even overlooked experience in an effort to inject enthusiasm in his team.

The 33-year-old tournament was introduced to the world series in 1999. Last year's, however, was omitted from the world series' calendar for security reasons due to the US-led war on terrorism in Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The tournament also features the Arabian Gulf side for the third time. The amateur team, made up of Western expatriates working in the region, hope to win a pool game for the first time, according to coach Daryl Weir.

The Gulf are grouped with England, Wales and Canada.

Pool A: New Zealand, Samoa, France, Sri Lanka

Pool B: England, Wales, Canada, Arabian Gulf

Pool C: Fiji, Argentina, Italy, Namibia

Pool D: South Africa, Australia, Morocco, Kenya

- NZPA