In theory, the All Blacks Sevens should have an easier pathway through to the Cup semifinals when they play the fifth leg of the World Series starting in Las Vegas tomorrow.
In most of the four tournaments thus far, they have had the misfortune to strike either South Africa or Fiji, two of the series frontrunners, in the early playoffs.
But they have every chance of topping Pool C, with Kenya, Russia and Argentina on the menu. Emerge from that, as they should, as one of the top two, and they will likely face either England or USA or Samoa, all winnable quarter-finals on day two.
The Las Vegas tournament is structured like the Olympics, with two games on each day, which should make it easier on the body. It will be warm in Vegas, but surely nothing like the high temperatures and humidity of Sydney, where they placed a creditable third.
DJ Forbes will assume the captaincy armband again after regular skipper Scott Curry was ruled out with what was said to be a minor concussion. It is hoped Curry will be ready for the Vancouver leg on March 11-12. That means Ambrose Curtis will be 13th man and Tasman's Tone Ng Shiu, whom the Herald revealed was very close to playing for Samoa in January, comes into the 12 for his second tournament.
