NZ sevens team get easy start to World Cup

New Zealand should face few problems on the first two days of the World Cup sevens in Hong Kong next month after receiving an easy pool draw.

Only Tonga should give World Cup holders New Zealand any concerns in their six-team pool at the four-yearly tournament being played from March 18-20.

The Gordon Tietjens-coached New Zealand will have few problems with Korea and Ireland before the clash with Tonga rounds out play on day one. Day two pits them against the United States and Scotland.

The top two teams from each of four pools advance to the quarterfinals onwards on March 20.

The leading seeds in the other pools are England and Samoa (pool B), Fiji and Australia (pool C) and Argentina and South Africa (pool D).

The World Cup is seperate from the International Rugby Board series, which New Zealand have dominated so far this year, having won the last three tournaments.

Coach Gordon Tietjens is allowed to introduce Super 12 players to his squad for the World Cup, with his extended initial training squad expected to be named later this week.

Pools:

Pool A: New Zealand, Tonga, Scotland, Ireland, Korea, USA,

Pool B: England, Samoa, France, Italy, Georgia, Chinese Taipei

Pool C: Fiji, Australia, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Hong Kong

Pool D: Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, Uruguay, Russia, Tunisia

- NZPA