Action from last year's semifinal between Waikato and Counties Manukau at the Provincial Union Sevens tournament. PHOTO/FILE
The clash between Bay of Plenty and Samoan BaaBaas to open the 2018 Provincial Union Sevens tournament at Blake Park tomorrow
The first men's match at 9am features the Samoan BaaBaas coached by Sir Gordon Tietjens up against Bay of Plenty with his son Paul in charge.
The match will be played on the aptly named Sir Gordon Tietjens Field.
Paul says the Samoan boys will be physical and fit. He should know - he is the Samoan strength and conditioning trainer.
"I definitely expect a very physical contest. They are very direct and good at the breakdown. Obviously, working beside them, they have made huge strides with their levels of conditioning and the way they are playing the game at a faster pace now.
"It will be played at an international pace with a few playing for contracts. My boys are certainly going to have to step up in the physical aspect and also make sure they look after the ball when they have got it and be patient with it.
"Sevens is very tough when you don't have the ball."
Tietjens senior says he will field a team with some young players straight out of school mixed with some more experienced internationals who need some game time.
One of the young brigade to watch is winger Kelvin Masoe who, in August, ran the fastest 100m time in Samoan history of 10.46s.
"There will be some good players in there but mainly I am giving these other players a chance. There are four or five spots open," Tietjens said.
"We are bringing over 24 players for a two-week camp. I am trying to build depth on the island and the way to build depth is to give these guys exposure and opportunity to play in a different country, which is what we are doing here."
The Samoan team's entry in the tournament is the start of two weeks at Mount Maunganui and Ohope for the extended squad before the next leg of the HSBC World Series in Sydney from January 26-28.
With just a week before the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua, tomorrow's tournament will be the final preparation for the men's and women's teams involved.
Paul Tietjens says the tournament is similar to the Northern region tournament.
"All of the top North Island teams are coming to this tournament expecting to build combinations and find out who their top side is leading into next week.
"It is definitely going to be a tough tournament and it is about coaches finding the right balance in their side to carry through to next weekend."
Bay of Plenty, Samoan BaaBaas, Bay of Plenty Academy, Manawatu, Tasman, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, Auckland, Waikato, Counties Manukau, Northland and Wellington make up the men's draw, with pool play through the day before finals at 5pm and 5.20pm.
The women's format is different this year with a modified round-robin and no final. Seven teams have entered - Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, North Harbour, Wellington, Auckland and Manawatu - with games to be played between 11am and 4.40pm.
Draws: www.boprugby.co.nz/sevens
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