Coach Rush makes instant impact

Eric Rush

Eric Rush was feeling relieved rather than excited after Auckland won their first national sevens title since 1991 yesterday.

Led by the irrepressible Amasio Valance, Auckland scored six converted tries to hammer Northland 42-12 in the final at the Wakatipu Rugby Club.

For Rush, it was a first national title as a coach after winning several as a player - and every accolade possible in sevens - with North Harbour.

"Mate, I'm not a good watcher," the retired great said. "Now I know why Gordon Tietjens hasn't got any hair."

Widely expected to follow Tietjens as coach of the New Zealand team, Rush said he was in awe of the effort produced by the younger players in his team.

"I thought we'd struggled at times on Saturday but the young fellas really lifted their intensity today. Some of them are just out of club rugby, you know. But there's some great talent coming through."

Rush backed the decision to permanently base the tournament in Queenstown.

"The atmosphere, the crowd, the climate ... is perfect."

Playmaker Valance received the Joe Tauiwi Memorial Trophy for player of the tournament following two days in which he and team-mate Orene Ai'i were unquestionably the class acts.

Northland took the lead in the final through a smart toe-ahead try by Thomas Toialoa, but Auckland responded with first-half tries to David Smith (2) and Valance.

When Northland had Eric Abraham sinbinned shortly after the break, the game was effectively settled, with veteran Mana Ashford scoring a late double for Auckland.

Northland played superbly to reach the final, knocking out strong Counties-Manukau and Bay of Plenty along the way, but Auckland were deserved champions.

Pre-tournament favourites Wellington, after being thrashed by Auckland in the major quarter-finals, had to settle for the second-tier plate title.

New Zealand stars Roy Kinikinilau and Tafai Ioasa each scored twice as Wellington overran Hawkes Bay 36-22.

Otago never really fired in attempting to repeat their surprise effort of reaching last year's final. They were beaten by Taranaki and Northland in the early rounds, but took the bowl final 29-19 over Canterbury.

Manawatu beat North Otago 45-24 in the shield final.

The under-achievers of the tournament were Waikato, who were among the favourites but could not win a game in pool play and were beaten by Canterbury in the bowl semifinal.

About 3500 spectators attended the tournament each day, with temperatures climbing into the 30s.

The crowd observed the minute's silence at 1.59pm yesterday for victims of the tsunami in Asia.

- NZPA