Stage fright concern for sevens coach before showdown

Northland sevens coach J T Thomas believes the biggest challenge to his players ahead of the short and sweet season is the mental game.
It has been six years since Northland has finished in the top eight at the annual Queenstown National Sevens Tournament and the coach said it is time the province was back up there.
He and assistant coach Peter Nock have been working with Northland's wider training squad of 32 players over the past month, building their fitness and confidence - and gradually trying to install a winning culture back into the squad.
"I know the team are capable of winning - there is no doubt about that. But the boys need to lift their game mentally, and apply their skill and flair along with confidence once they get to the bigger competitions," he said.
Last year Northland finished third at the Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens after an impressive tournament. However, things turned pear-shaped when Northland played at the National Pub Charity Rugby Sevens six days later.
"They were well on track to do well at Queenstown but we bombed out and finished in the bottom eight. We lost to teams there we had beaten convincingly at Mount Maunganui the week before, so it must be a mental thing - once they get to the big competitions, they get a bit of stage fright or something."
What this year's squad lacks in experience, it makes up with youthful enthusiasm, the coach said.
Last year, Northland had Lachie Munro who added depth to the side, but this year he is unavailable to play due to his Blues Super 15 Rugby commitments, along with Rene Ranger.
But Brook Gilmore, Iwi Hauraki and Cam Goodhew should provide some experience as well as some spark in the side.
"A lot of the teams will have former New Zealand and ITM Cup players, so it will be tough."
All of the wider training squad were in action at the inaugural Wellsford Sevens Tournament on Saturday.
This one-day competition was followed by an internal trial yesterday in an attempt to simulate what happens at Nationals as much as possible, Thomas said.
From these two days of games and trials, the coaches will select 14 players to compete at the Bay Of Plenty Provincial Tournament on January 2 at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park. A further two players will be dropped ahead of the National tournament at the Queenstown Recreation Ground, on January 8 and 9.
A 14-man team to play at the Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens will be selected from: Thomas Tamani, Toby Philips, Boyd Flavell (Otamatea), Brook Gilmore, Saxon Samuels, Adam Clarke, Dan McCully, Ben Berridge, Ana Vette-Walsh (Mid Western), Bronson Waaka, Beau Dickens (Marist), Rori Brown (Waipu), Rhys Te Nana, Kadin Te Nana, Nat Jull (Moerewa), Troy Lobendan, Jake Wainwright (Kerikeri), Kane Rudolph (Whangaruru), Reece Lavavasau (Hikurangi), Matt Harrison, Kurt Benny (Whangarei Old Boys), Tom Losefa, Tala Moli (Muriwhenua), Hunia Kingi, Iwi Hauraki, Mac Sykes (Kamo), Steven Tane, Tane Takulua, Sefa Mafi (Western Sharks), Logan Wendt, Rukuwai Waaka (Hora Hora), John Cocker (Wellsford).