Rugby sevens: Adelaide win key for sevens title chase

Gordon Tietjens. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

This weekend's Adelaide sevens rugby tournament will be key to New Zealand's hopes of regaining the world series crown for the first time since 2008, coach Gordon Tietjens says.

New Zealand broke a deadlock with England at the top of the table after four rounds by grabbing the Hong Kong title last weekend.

England, beaten 29-17 in the Hong Kong final, trail New Zealand by just five points ahead of the final three rounds - Adelaide this weekend, London on May 21-22 and Edinburgh the following weekend.

New Zealand, having won three rounds, top the table after five rounds with 110 points followed by England on 105, Fiji and defending series champions Samoa both on 84 and the 2009 series winners, South Africa, on 72.

Tietjens anticipates that England, led by veteran playmaker Ben Gollings, will be targeting a good result ahead of their home tournaments.

"For us, we hope to do well here and put some points on England ahead of final two legs," Tietjens told the International Rugby Board website.

Last weekend's win was a great confidence booster for a young New Zealand team but the world series title would now be the focus.

"We can't sit on the Hong Kong win. To kick on and win the world series, you have to do well here," he said.

"If you lose very early in this tournament and don't qualify for the cups or get knocked out in a quarter-final, the other teams are on your heels.

"Adelaide is a tournament we haven't done particularly well at - we got beaten last year in the quarter-finals by the winning team, Samoa, who went on to win the world series, so we are certainly looking to turn that around."

- NZPA