Opportunistic Tietjens looking to cobble together a Games team

New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens says a lot of Super 14 players want to play at the Commonwealth Games tournament in March.

He was responding to queries about player eagerness to turn out for sevens after a couple of high-profilers declined last year with some less-than-convincing reasons. Tietjens has sent a letter to every Super 14 player asking about their availability for the Games. The responses are still being collated by the New Zealand Rugby Union but Tietjens said he has heard anecdotally that a lot of players are keen.

The problem is whether the players declaring an interest are the players he needs to build a winning squad for Melbourne. His desire for pace and sevens skills has been well documented this year as his below-strength team have struggled in their quest to keep the world sevens title which has only ever been won by New Zealand. But interest, Tietjens said, doesn't necessarily equal expertise.

"There are a lot of players from each franchise who want to play," he said, "but rules state we can only take one per franchise."

In any case, if a player putting his hand up is a forward, Tietjens is likely to be less interested than if he could claim a Rico Gear, for example.

This is a long way away from the glory days when a star-studded New Zealand line-up won gold at Kuala Lumpur and Manchester in 1998 and 2002 respectively but Tietjens is philosophical about the roadblocks he is facing in his final year.

He could be forgiven for firing some shots but Tietjens said: "What people have to accept is that sevens rugby has a huge development role to play. People have to see it in the context of the All Blacks. It is all about that big picture, and where Super 14 and sevens fit into that picture. You only get the World Cup and Commonwealth Games once every four years and we inevitably face more difficult times then.

"The sad fact is that there are players who want to go to Melbourne who won't go. Take Waikato, for example. They have five quality sevens players in the region but only one can go to the Games."

Having said all of that, Tietjens the statesman is also Tietjens the wheeler-dealer and he will work hard with the Super 14 coaches to persuade them to release players.

Tomorrow he trims his squad for the Wellington IRB sevens down to 17 but is also looking to Los Angeles and Melbourne. "We have to look at what's best for the All Blacks, the Super 14 franchises and the players. It's not easy for the Super 14 coaches either," he said.

"Take Chris Masoe [one of the many All Blacks who has earned his stripes via the sevens team]. The Hurricanes have lost Ben Herring this year so Masoe is likely to be playing week in, week out. Clearly the best interests of Masoe must be taken into account."

However, not all potential Games gold medal winners may be locked up by their franchises. Tietjens is also adept at sniffing out opportunities from down the ranks in Super 14. Like Wellington loose forward Scott Waldrom, who was well down the pecking order when he was at the Crusaders, before Tietjens came knocking.

"You could also take the example of Tanerau Latimer," said Tietjens. "He's a No 7 at the Crusaders this year and they have a strong line-up [Richie McCaw and Johnny Leo'o are their two main No 7s] and if he's there not doing much and they have no injuries, then it's worth a conversation."

Somehow you get the feeling Tietjens isn't done yet. He concedes that it's difficult facing his final year when New Zealand's grip on world sevens and the Games gold medal is threatened.

"Of course, you'd like to take the best possible team away," he said, "but it's a difficult year and we have difficult problems to face."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY