Less than 8 days to go till @dubai7s and Sir Gordon sets his sights on a sixth Dubai title

The Head Coach of the mighty New Zealand rugby Sevens squad, Sir Gordon Tietjens, believes it is “about time” the All Blacks added a sixth Dubai World Series title to their long collection of honours.

The all-conquering Kiwis are the current HSBC Sevens World Series overall champions, and winners of the IRB Sevens World Cup title in June. They also won Round One of this season’s World Series, on the Gold Coast in Australia last month.

And Sir Gordon says he will be looking for his team to carry on from where they left off Australia, when they take part in the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens, which take place between November 28 and 30.

They won this season’s first round in convincing style, and the legendary coach– who has guided his team to 11 overall World Series titles in the 14 years that the competition started – says there is a particular incentive to do well in Dubai.

Five time champions in Dubai, the All Blacks have not won at 7he Sevens since 2009, when they beat Samoa. Last year the Samoans gained revenge for that defeat, when they beat New Zealand in the final to take their first Dubai title.

Said Sir Gordon, who was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honours List earlier this year: “Dubai’s always an exciting event. We always have great support out there, because there’s a lot expats, and others who fly in for the tournament, and it’s always appreciated.

“But Dubai is a tournament we haven’t won for a number of years now, and it is about time we changed that, so we have to carry on from where we left off at the Gold Coast in round one, and if we do that, we have a chance.”

New Zealand were in terrific form at the Gold Coast event – going through the Pool matches without conceding a point, then beating Samoa, England and finally host nation Australia in the final, when they fought back from 12-nil down to win 40-19.

Their performance in Round 1 established them as favourites to win a 12th World Series title this season, and victory in Dubai would further underline that tag.

Indeed, victory at the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens would be particularly sweet for Sir Gordon, who admits to having a big soft spot for this event.
“We always look forward to going there,” he said.

“Dubai’s a great event: for the thousands of people who turn up every year and create a fantastic atmosphere, the lovely environment; and it’s generally a lovely place to visit - I always enjoy going there, and we are always made very welcome.

“Dubai as a Sevens event is superbly well run, it generates a lot of interest, and what makes it special is that you’ve the women’s tournament running alongside ours, and then all invitation matches going on around and about, too.”

NEW ZEALAND
(Gold Coast, HSBC Sevens World Series round 1: CHAMPIONS)

HSBC Sevens World Series, Pool A
Fixtures, November 29, 2013

09.24 v France
13.54 v Portgual
19.16 v Kenya