Louisa Wall: Depleted Sevens still good for a medal

Nga mihi nui mo te tau hou, Happy 2006!

So, what can we expect in 2006? More success from our athletes and national teams? Absolutely, positively!

In March attention will turn to Melbourne, where many of the world's greatest athletes - representing 71 nations and a third of the world's population - compete in the Commonwealth Games.

New Zealand are sending their largest team overseas and picks for gold are: the Silver Ferns, Beatrice Faumuina and Valerie Vili in the field; Dean Kent in the pool; Sarah Ulmer on the road. But I'm not so confident about our sevens team who I would normally list here.

Not because we don't have the players but because the selectors might not have access to them and the players might not want to play.

So, I feel a bit of aroha for Gordon Tietjens. He and his side have had a shocking start to the IRB world series. They even managed to lose a plate final play-off against Samoa - our worst finish ever.

Tietjens really is suffering from self-inflicted success with the raid by the Super 14 coaches resulting in seven players from last season leaving his talented pool, denying him considerable experience, and with the likes of Tamati Ellison, Roy Kinikinilau, Liam Messam, new All Black Isaia Toeava and Tanerau Latimer unavailable.

It's worth noting the importance of the games to nations such as Australia and England.

Australian sevens coach Glen Ella has listed Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Scott Fava and Chris Latham in his "dream team" and has an agreement with the four Australian Super 14 teams to make the best players available.

"Wearing the gold jersey at the Commonwealth Games is a big occasion that every player would relish, especially in front of a big home crowd in Melbourne," says Ella. Stop your gloating mate!

And the English have stated one of the objectives of the Rugby Football Union is to win the world series.

New Zealand's commitment is a member from the top 22 in each Super 14 team and then a player in the squad (apparently) being available for selection.

It is almost the same as the Aussies but I am concerned if players will actually want to play the sevens if they are in contention for the All Blacks.

I hope Graham Henry is telling the players that being selected for the sevens is a positive and if Tietjens wants them then they should make themselves available.

Looking at the Super 14 schedule the players will need to be available in weeks 5 and 6 of the competition at a minimum.

It is hardest for any of the Hurricanes to be involved as both games are in South Africa.

It is best for the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders as they are based in New Zealand during this period and the Blues have the bye week 5 and the Chiefs have the bye week 6.

The Highlanders return from South Africa week 6.

It is worth noting that England will face home nation Australia in Pool C which also includes the Cook Islands and Sri Lanka.

We are in Pool A and will face Kenya, Wales and Namibia.

Fiji are in Pool B which includes Scotland, Canada and Zambia.

And South Africa are in Pool D with Samoa, Tonga and Uganda.

I'd like to see us send our best team to the Games and win the gold. For me, representing my country at any opportunity is the priority.


* Louisa Wall is a former New Zealand rugby and netball representative