Sevens: NZ to face England early

England won the first sevens event of the season. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand get another taste of England's increased application to sevens rugby in the second leg of the world series in South Africa this weekend.

Now boasting a swag of sevens specialists on central contracts, England swept to victory in the opening International Rugby Board tournament at Dubai last weekend and will tackle the young New Zealand side in pool play at George on Saturday morning (NZT).

Coach Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand team know revenge for their semifinal exit against England at Dubai could hand them the momentum to defend their George title and thereby win the South African leg for the seventh time in 12 editions.

Waikato pair Declan O'Donnell and Frank Halai and Auckland flyer Bryce Heem were three who made a particularly good fist of their debut tournament last week. In conjunction with veterans DJ Forbes, Tomasi Cama, Lote Raikabula and Tim Mikkelson they were impressive until coming unstuck one game short of the final.

This weekend is also stands out as a chance for several fringe players to impress Tietjens and force places at the next IRB tournament, in Wellington in two months.

For England, it is an opportunity to prove their Dubai form was no one-off, having knocked over Fiji in pool play before accounting for big guns Australia, New Zealand and reigning series champions Samoa on finals day.

England coach Ben Ryan said the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) investment in placing seven of his players on contracts had reaped immediate dividends.

"Maybe the worm has turned for England sevens and you will see a new chapter. This is a pretty exciting time for all of us," he said.

"Hopefully we can stir the England sevens beast to be a pretty powerful weapon over the years for England rugby."

The contracts are understood to be less than what New Zealand and South African players receive but there is the carrot of an improved deal next year, when the RFU is expected to offer 10 contracts.

"I hesitate in saying it (Dubai) was a perfect start - but it is a perfect result for us," Ryan said.

"We can fight with the best of them and the boys proved that. We were relaxed and we were ruthless and it's a good combination."

Before the England-New Zealand first-day showdown, both teams open their pool accounts with matches against Kenya and Russia.

Pools:
Pool A: Australia, Scotland, Wales, France
Pool B: Samoa, Fiji, United States, Namibia
Pool C: New Zealand, England, Kenya, Russia
Pool D: South Africa, Argentina, Portugal, Zimbabwe

- NZPA