KEY POINTS:
Defeat is not a word often associated with Gordon Tietjens but past tribulations have provided ammunition for his side to mount another New Zealand assault on the International Rugby Board series.
Hong Kong hosts the fifth leg of the eight-tournament championship this weekend, with New Zealand and Fiji joint series leaders on 60. South Africa lurk in third place on 56.
An extra incentive for a top performance at the Hong Kong National Stadium has been added, with the tournament winners scooping 30 points, instead of the normal 20.
The opportunity to edge ahead of their Pacific rivals was one New Zealand coach Tietjens stressed they had to take.
Promisingly for Tietjens, the 12-man squad arrived in the former British colony in better shape than they did a year ago - when they were in the midst of a poor season.
With the squad gutted of experience through an exodus of players to Super 14 teams and overseas clubs, his new batch were floundering.
They finished a distant fourth but that rough apprenticeship served to shape a squad who have rebounded into genuine title contenders.
"Why we've responded and performed better this year is because those players that were exposed last year are into their second season of the world series, so that's vital experience," said Tietjens.
"I think we're seeing some of the rewards with these players."
New Zealand were runners-up in the season opener Dubai, winners in the second tournament in South Africa and semifinalists in Wellington and San Diego. In the 2005-2006 season, their best efforts were four semifinal appearances.
New Zealand are playing Italy in their only game tomorrow before facing Russia and Kenya on Saturday.
"I'm sure if we play well in the first game, that's the key for us," Tietjens said.
Tietjens' playing stocks were rocked with the withdrawal of captain Tafai Ioasa through a recurring knee injury. Ioasa was replaced by Otago's Adam Thompson and D.J. Forbes will captain the side.
"These guys have to dig in now, but there's a lot of character about this team," the coach said.
He has placed added responsibility on four senior players: Commonwealth Games gold medallists Nigel Hunt, Zar Lawrence, Lote Raikabula and Edwin Cocker.
2007 Sevens New Zealand Squad
DJ Forbes (c), Tomasi Cama, Edwin Cocker, Nigel Hunt, Solomon King, Zar Lawrence, Afeleke Pelenise, Lote Raikabula, Willie Rickards, Adam Thomson, Nick Thomson, Steven Yates.
Pools
Pool A: Fiji, Scotland, Portugal, Sri Lanka
Pool B: South Africa, Wales, Tonga, Taiwan
Pool C: Samoa, Canada, Japan, China
Pool D: NEW ZEALAND, Kenya, Russia, Italy
Pool E: England, Argentina, Korea, Hong Kong
Pool F: France, Australia, Tunisia, US
Leading standings
Fiji 60
New Zealand 60
South Africa 56
Samoa 48
England 36
France 28
Australia 10
Canada 8
Wales 8
- NZPA
