Sevens: Five new caps in sevens line-up

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens has named five new faces in an inexperienced squad of 12 for this weekend's World Series sevens tournament in Wellington.

With long-serving captain Eric Rush injured and Super 12 preparations taking precedence, Tietjens has been able to call on only Karl Te Nana, Jonah Lomu and Jared Going from the 10 players who won the World Cup in Argentina last week.

The squad is also bolstered by the return of experienced forward Craig De Goldi, who was ruled out of the World Cup with an arm injury, and Waikato's Damian Karauna.

But it still has a heavily inexperienced and youthful look.

Of the 12, Chris Masoe, of Taranaki, Hayden Reid, of Otago, Tafai Ioasa, of Hawkes Bay, and Ross Martin and Nick Collins, both of Bay of Plenty, have yet to play for New Zealand.

Wanganui's Donovan Nepia and Canterbury's Johnny Leo'o have had limited playing time as injury replacements.

Nepia replaced De Goldi for the World Series tournaments in Dubai and South Africa late last year, while Leo'o was called in to the squad for Dubai.

Tietjens said his side were desperate to perform well in Wellington after last year's disappointing loss to Fiji in the final, but he warned that the New Zealanders were outsiders to take the title.

"This tournament is going to be an incredibly tough challenge for us. We're the world champions now, and we're also leading the World Series after winning in South Africa and Dubai, so everyone will be gunning for us," Tietjens said.

"But that's something the young guys will have to learn to live with and, hopefully, use as motivation."

Fiji have also kept only three players from the World Cup.

Star players such as Waisale Serevi, Filimone Delasau, Vili Satala, Jope Tuikabe and Marika Vunibaka, all members of the side who won last year and went to the cup in Argentina, are unavailable.

Dan Qauqau, a former Otago representative, withdrew from the squad citing "domestic difficulties," and the Fijian halfback for the sevens and XVs teams last year, Seru Rabeni, is heading to Dunedin on a university scholarship.

"We're coming with virtually a new team," Fijian coach Rupeni Ravonu said, after announcing his travelling squad.

Retained from the cup team are halfback Fero Lasagavibau, Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Bruce Rauqe.

The newcomers are Eparama Navale, Apisai Naro, Semisi Naevo, Vereniki Waqa, Tui Driva Bainivalu, Esava Vakacereisolo, Jona Nareki and Apenisa Valesu.

New Zealand: Karl Te Nana (North Harbour, capt), Nick Collins (Bay of Plenty), Craig De Goldi (Auckland), Jared Going (Northland), Tafai Ioasa (Hawkes Bay), Damian Karauna (Waikato), Johnny Leo'o (Canterbury), Jonah Lomu (Wellington), Ross Martin (Bay of Plenty), Chris Masoe (Taranaki), Donovan Nepia (Wanganui) and Hayden Reid (Otago).

Not considered because of injury: Jason Tiatia.

- NZPA