Savou sets goal for series

Fiji Times - Friday, November 30, 2007 6:00 AM

WITH the 2007/2008 International Rugby Board Sevens World Series starting today leading coaches have said they are using the event to build up to the 2009 Sevens World Cup in Dubai.

South African coach Paul Treu apart from defending the Dubai title is "building" for the future.

Fijian coach Jo Savou held a similar view when asked about his goals for the opening tournament of the current series.

He will also be fielding a very inexperienced side, with the most noticeable names missing those of legendary Sevens star Waisale Serevi and the equally talented William Ryder and Lepani Nabuliwaqa.

Serevi, a player/coach for the past two years, might still feature at next year's Hong Kong Sevens as a swan-song, but Ryder has fallen foul of Fijian officials and took up a contract in Japan - ruling him out of the entire series.

"Serevi mentioned that he wants to retire at Hong Kong, so we'll discuss it with the management and see when we approach Hong Kong," Savou, who took over as coach from Serevi, said.

However, the Fijian coach is not raising the bar too high for his team in Dubai.

"We have lost some experienced players, who took up contracts [mostly at the cash-flush European clubs] and we are developing a new side," Savou said.

"We are hoping to perform well in Dubai this weekend, but we also want to develop players looking towards the 2009 [Sevens] World Cup.

"We will work on the new players and see how it goes as we build towards the World Cup."

He admitted that his team can't afford to be as slow out the blocks as they were in the 2006/2007 season, when they failed to impress in the opening few rounds.

"We did not start well in Dubai and George last year, and this year we'll be focusing on the errors that cost us [in those tournament]," he added.

New Zealand, the seven-time and defending IRB Sevens World Series champions, are also talking about "building", despite fielding one of the most settled sides in Dubai.

They took the 2006/2007 crown when the Fijians lost in the quarter-finals of the last leg in Scotland and the Kiwis sneaked the series by just two points.

"To come from behind like we did [in the 2006/2007 IRB Sevens World Series] was great," New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said.

Describing the Fijians as "the most dangerous Sevens team in the World", Tietjens said it is vital for his men to start the season well.

"It is important that we get the start that we got last year [runners-up in Dubai and winners in George], because that's the key to a good series ... a solid start," he said.

But he also spoke about looking towards 2009 as the long-term goal.

"This is a year that we have to build towards that World Cup in Dubai," Tietjens said.

"It's early in the following year in 2009, so it's key for us, and for me, to develop players and hopefully retain them. It [the Sevens World Cup] only comes round once every four years, so you have to apply yourself for that."

Tietjens himself never hid his surprise in June this year, when Fiji slipped up to allow his side to pip them by two tantalising points.

However, now the challenge of once again taking on the likes of Samoa, South Africa, England and the Fijians is what still makes him tick after more than a decade in the job.

"It's the excitement of another Series, the enthusiasm of new, younger players coming through that excites me and you've got to promote those players and if you can convince them to play Sevens in the first place then the challenge is there."

The Kiwis should have no trouble in topping Pool A in Dubai, where they face France, Scotland and Arabian Gulf.

That will set them up for a quarter-final showdown with the second-placed team from Pool B - likely to be Australia or Argentina. Fiji should top pool B, with pool minnows Zimbabwe's best bet being a rare upset.

Samoa head Pool C, where they should easily account for Wales, Kenya and the United States. The race for second place and a spot in the Cup section of the tournament could be an interesting tussle.

Defending champions South Africa are fancied in Pool D, but England always provide a stern challenge - while Canada and Tunisia can't be dismissed.