Sevens: Lawbuka catches Tietjens attention at sevens tourney

Waisea Lawbuka was player of the tournament at the Bay of Plenty Rugby Provincial Men's Sevens. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The Northland sevens side's gleeful run to the finals of last weekend's Bay of Plenty Rugby Provincial Men's Sevens tournament hasn't gone unnoticed, with slinky speedster Waisea Lawbuka being hailed as the player of the tournament.

More importantly, though, a few quiet words between All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens and Northland coach Peter Nock after Northland's emphatic win over Bay of Plenty in the semifinals could suggest the rugby sevens coaching-guru has an eye to the north as he chews the fat over four remaining spots left in his injury-depleted men's national side.

"After we played Bay of Plenty and won 29-14 he was pretty excited," Nock said about several of his players' performances catching Tietjens' gaze.

"We want to give our boys the best shot to get in front of him, that's what we're all here for," said Nock.

"But you never know with Titch," Nock added.

Reaching the final of the annual tournament, Northland fended off threats from imposing regional teams Wellington and Manawatu to finish on top of Pool C.

Taking down Bay of Plenty 29-14 at the semifinal stage, Northland were one place away from securing tournament honours.

However, the last grasp of a golden finish landed, instead, in Taranaki's hands.

A game of two halves, Northland showed their dominance to hold a 17-0 lead over Taranaki at the halftime break of the Cup final.

Returning from halftime Taranaki attacked with vigour, scoring 31 points in handsome fashion to which Northland were unable to respond; Taranaki winning the stunning final 31-17 just one week out from the Bayley's National Sevens in Rotorua.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks Sevens squad assembled yesterday at St Peter's College in Cambridge for the first training camp of 2016, a camp which features All Black Sonny Bill Williams and Investec Super Rugby players Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Ben Lam, and Ardie Savea.

Tietjens will name a new captain for the remaining tournaments of the HSBC Sevens World Series after training, thus replacing Scott Curry who suffered a season ending injury at the Dubai Sevens.

The All Blacks Sevens will then assemble in Wellington on January 21 to prepare for the Wellington Sevens.

Four players (Wider Training Group) will be added to the squad after this weekend's Bayley's National Sevens.