Decimated Kiwis in a 'war zone'
The All Black Sevens were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Cape Town leg of the World Series at the weekend and finished the tournament with just six fit players – unable to make meaningful replacements at any stage.
South Africa beat Argentina in the Final to join Fiji at the top of the series table on 35 points. Argentina are sharing third place on the series ladder with the United States – both on 29 points, while England are fifth on 26, France and New Zealand on 25 points.
Tietjens is now faced with finding cover for his horrific list of long-term injuries ahead of Round Three of the World Series, on home soil in Wellington on January 30 and 31.
"I have never seen anything like it, it has been like a war zone," Tietjens said on the All Black website.
"The game is brutal in terms of physicality now," the veteran coach added.
"The breakdown is obviously an important part, regaining possession or trying to turn over possession and shoulders, knees, ankles which have been the nature of the injuries my players have received is just part and parcel of a physical sport."
Decimated during the opening round in Dubai, Declan O'Donnell suffered a knee injury in Cape Town that ended his season, while Antonio Kirikiri was taken to Cape Town hospital for plastic surgery after suffering what Tietjens said was a terrible cut around an eye.
Compounding the situation is the news that captain Scott Curry's shoulder injury will keep him out of the entire World Series.
Sherwin Stowers had a rod inserted in his arm and is out for 12 weeks, Regan Ware is out for six weeks, Sam Dickson's shoulder injury has not been fully assessed and Joe Webber's ankle injury will keep him out for six to eight weeks.
DJ Forbes ended the South African tournament with a calf injury, while Lewis Ormond's bicep injury will keep him out for four weeks.
Tietjens was hopeful Tim Mikkelson would have recovered from concussion by the Wellington tournament.
"There's a lot of rugby players in New Zealand, but there is not a lot of Sevens players that understand the game and who are able to compete at that level and who are just not conditioned enough.
"It is going to take these newer players coming in from Super Rugby a while to adjust."
Source: allblacks.com
