New Zealand's All Blacks teams celebrate with the men and women's trophies at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Moscow, Russia. Photo / AP
Four things New Zealand can do to sustain sevens success through to Rio de Janeiro:
1. Sign specialists
This is more of a problem for the men. Sir Gordon Tietjens is reluctant to use anyone not conditioned to sevens rather than fifteens. He used one Super rugby player, Waisake Naholo, during
the World Cup. Details need to be sorted as to how that impacts professional rugby but sevens-specific contracts are expected.
In all likelihood only a handful of current All Blacks and Super rugby players (rangy loose forwards and pacy backs) need apply.
2. Market the 'sevens sisters'
The Moscow recruits appeared tremendous ambassadors; courteous, obliging and exemplary of conduct. The NZRU marketing department must surely only need to don their coats and grab a bucket to collect the sponsor offers raining in.
3. Restraints of trade
The serious side of the business. The NZRU needs to ensure all parties with intellectual property attached to the Olympic cause keep schtum. New Zealand's success is one thing but the continued improvement of heavyweight countries like Russia, the United States and China justifies getting the lawyers on the case.
