RUGBY: Arnold throws himself into Sevens gold rush

The curious looks Toby Arnold's been getting from his teammates as he's practised throwing the ball into the lineout at Bay of Plenty training should stop now his Commonwealth Games secret is out.
Exactly how much of a secret Arnold's selection for the sevens teams for the October games in New Delhi was is debatable, but confirmation last night he's in should help ease a few concerns.
Arnold is likely to fill a different role in Delhi from the one he's been playing all year on the world circuit, moving from second receiver to halfback or back-up halfback.
He's sought out Steamers hooker Dan Perrin for specialist advice on how to propel the ball into the lineout.
"I've been working with Dan as much as I can on throwing - it's a bit different from fullback and probably raised a few eyebrows among the boys. It's clear I need a lot more practise between now and October."
Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens picked four All Blacks - Zac Guildford, Adam Thomson, Hosea Gear and Ben Smith - in his team, with Arnold, 22, among eight stalwarts from the world series team that finished second to Samoa this year. The side is captained by Counties Manukau's DJ Forbes.
Wellington's Julian Savea and Bay of Plenty's Solomon King are on stand-by and will travel with the squad to Dubai on October 1 for pre-games preparations.
New Zealand, winners of Commonwealth Games gold in 1998 (Kuala Lumpur), 2002 (Manchester) and 2006 (Melbourne), have drawn Scotland, Canada and Caribbean champions Guyana in Pool A in Delhi.
After extensive travel to far-flung destinations such as Dubai, Las Vegas, London and Hong Kong on the IRB circuit, Delhi would be something new, with Arnold already having a series of jabs to help protect him against typhoid, polio, tetanus, cholera, diphtheria and hepatitis A and B.
After some initial hesitancy when he was first selected last year, he now feels at home in the game's abbreviated version.
"Early on this year, if you'd mentioned Commonwealth Games I would have thought it was unlikely, but I gathered more confidence as the season went along."
Tietjens said the world series had levelled out sevens in the last three or four years so it would be a huge challenge for top-seeded New Zealand to continue their unbeaten run at the Games.
Samoa as reigning world series champions, Australia, England and South Africa would also be expected to wheel out some of their big guns for New Delhi. "Certainly, three or four teams can win the gold medal," Tietjens said.
For Arnold, the challenge is ensuring it's New Zealand at the top of the dais after the October 12 final.
"Three games so far and three gold - we've almost got to go over and win don't we? I'm pretty sure we'll feel pressure but that's what we want. The boys don't want silver or bronze - gold is what we're going for."
New Zealand squad for New Delhi: Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Kurt Baker (Taranaki), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (captain, Counties Manukau), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Ben Smith (Otago), Ben Sounness (Taranaki), Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau), Adam Thomson (Otago). Standby players: Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Julian Savea (Wellington).