Rugby sevens: Too many mistakes cost us, says NZ coach

Too many mistakes and a lack of composure cost New Zealand dearly in the final of the IRB World Sevens Series rugby tournament in Brisbane last night, a disappointed coach Gordon Tietjens said today.

New Zealand were thrashed 28-0 by Australia at Ballymore.

"We made too many mistakes early on in the game and they punished us," Tietjens told NZPA.

"But I thought Australia played very, very well ... they played a superb game of rugby."

Tietjens said New Zealand's errors included missing crucial tackles and failing to secure the ball at two kickoffs.

"It's all about pressure and accuracy and we didn't absorb the pressure like we should have done," he said.

"There was a huge atmosphere there and huge crowd support for Australia, so perhaps that got to a few players. We folded in that situation and it cost us."

It was Australia's first victory in four legs of the 11-tournament series, but New Zealand -- the IRB series defending champions -- still head the points table.

Tietjens said the team would regroup, analyse their performance, and look for a significant improvement for the New Zealand leg in Wellington on Friday and Saturday.

"I think our time will come," he said.

"We have a young side and new players coming back into it, and we lose players to the Super 12 quite often. I thought our team had done particularly well to get to the final."

He singled out captain Craig De Goldi, newcomer Nick Evans and Jared Going as players who performed well during the tournament.

Tim Atkinson helped set up the Australian win last night when he scored two tries in the first two minutes against New Zealand.

The game also marked a winning rugby debut for Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers, who were playing their first international rugby matches for an Australian team since switching from rugby league last year.

Rogers required medical attention twice in the final and was forced to leave the field temporarily in the second half after incidents which led to De Goldi earning a yellow card.

The sevens series ends in Cardiff in June.

- NZPA