Tietjens rejects claims

Fiji Times - Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:53 AM

NEW Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens says the claims that there was sabotage involved in Fiji's 34-0 loss to his side at the Hong Kong Sevens semi-final last weekend was shocking.

His comments followed claims which arose on Friday that a former senior player could have influenced some of the Fijian reps to throw away the match against the Kiwis.

Tietjens said the allegations had somewhat taken out the gloss from his side's perfect performance at So Kon Po.

Tietjens dismissed any suggestion that Fiji's players had given anything less than 100 per cent.

"I was informed yesterday morning, but that was the first I've heard of it," he told The Dominion Post.

"Some of the pictures I've seen just recently of the Fijians straight after that loss, and how they looked when they walked off the field, from the position that I'm in as a coach certainly there was no suggestion.

"There's always a rivalry between New Zealand and Fiji and nothing really changed.

"I don't want to detract from the performance of my guys because I thought they played outstandingly well."

He said the Fiji players had been understandably upset after the match. "They were, their heads were down, drooping, Vunibaka and all of them when they came off the track.

Tietjens said he could understand the passionate reaction in Fiji to the team's loss, but would be staggered if there was any evidence of sabotage.

"That's why it's quite inconceivable and so unbelievable that these things would come out," he said.

"If you look into the websites and look at the Fiji Times, for example, there are hundreds and hundreds of letters and a lot of them are calling for the sacking of the coach, that's just how passionate they are over there."