XVs focus don't matter

Fiji Times - Saturday, December 01, 2007 6:00 AM

NEW Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens says Fiji will remain a force in the abbreviated code despite plans to concentrate more on fifteens rugby.

Fifteens rugby has taken the centre stage at the Fiji Rugby Union headquarters after the Flying Fijians put up a gallant effort to reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in France.

While sevens has been Fiji's success story over the years, the FRU is turning to fifteens to attract the much-needed dollar.

But Tietjens, who has been at the helm for New Zealand over the past 14 years, believes Fiji will always remain a threat on the international sevens scene even without its top players.

"They have got so many sevens players with more depth then anyone and most of their fifteens players are either playing overseas in some of the clubs. So I don't think they'll do because sevens will never ever leave Fiji," Tietjens said.

"They'll certainly want to win the World Series like they have done. They're the most dangerous sevens team in the world.

"They're always difficult to beat. They're there on the whereabouts and I don't think that'll change, ever."

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.

Tietjens said the 2007/2008 series in Dubai was the start of preparations for the 2009 Sevens World Cup. "This year is a year we need to build towards that world cup because it's only the following year in 2009," Tietjens said.

"It's going to be a key year for us to develop players and retain them for the world cup. It only comes around only once every four year so you need to prime yourself for that.

"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."