Augustine Pulu set for sevens debut

Augustine Pulu.

Sir Gordon Tietjens is taking an extended squad of 14 to the first two events of the 2015-16 HSBC World Series in Dubai and Cape Town.

Tietjens said the thinking behind taking 14 players was to provide further incentive for all players to push for places in the final 12. He will follow the same format all season.

"It's for all those players to put pressure on others at training. Knowing you're not in the starting 12 you can get complacent and lose focus. I want pressure put on every individual in all the teams we name throughout the year.

"For training it's great to have two teams of sevens up against each which again creates more competition."

All Blacks and Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu is set for a possible debut. Tietjens has been impressed with how quickly he has adapted to sevens, having not played the shortened game before.

"He's a fine rugby player. He's come on in leaps and bounds in the time he has been with us. The improvement has been immense this week. This is a great opportunity for him to put his hand up to have a crack at other teams this season.

"He's got very good vision. He's quick off the mark. He's quick to spot a gap. He's going to keep teams honest and he's very strong and physical."

He had high praise for Waikato speedster Regan Ware as well. "He's the quickest player in the team. He's a great defender and attacker. It's important we have a player like Regan out wide who can score tries from out of nothing, beating a man one-on-one so he's a good player to have in the squad."

Long-serving former skipper DJ Forbes is also in the mix, while Bay of Plenty's Teddy Stanaway, a 2009 New Zealand Under 20, will offer physicality and pace.

Dubai has not been a happy hunting ground for the All Blacks Sevens in recent years, placing fourth in 2014, but Tietjens said the team was determined to start this critical new season well.

"I have set a goal for this team; let's go and win Dubai. Let's give it our best shot. We may or may not win, but I'd like to think we come out of this tournament with distinction, that we are on the improve. We have prepared well. We have planned well. Now we have to perform. An injury-free side, no excuses really, and ready to perform."

The team departs for Dubai on Sunday.

The squad is: Scott Curry (c), Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Tim Mikkelson, Declan O'Donnell, Lewis Ormond, Augustine Pulu, Teddy Stanaway, Sherwin Stowers, Isaac Te Tamaki, Beaudein Waaka, Regan Ware, Joe Webber

Schedule for Dubai Sevens
The All Blacks Sevens are drawn in Pool C and play France and Portugal before finishing the day against USA who ended last season by winning the London Sevens.

Friday December 4 - pool play
10.30am (7.30pm NZT) v France
2.14pm (11.14pm NZT) v Portugal
7.58pm (5.58am Sat. Dec. 5 NZT) v USA
Saturday December 5 - finals

Sky Sport's Rugby Channel schedule for Dubai Sevens
Friday December 4 - Pool play: 5.50pm - 6.00am (Women's finals coverage from 1.00am - 3.00am Saturday December 5)
Saturday 5 December - Finals: 6.20pm - 5.30am