Tietjens casts eye over future stars
New Zealand lost the services of a number of key players during the Dubai and Cape Town Sevens tournaments in December. They included Captain Scott Curry, Sherwin Stowers, Regan Ware and Joe Webber.
In Cape Town, Declan O'Donnell suffered a knee injury that ended his season while Antonio Kirikiri was taken to hospital for plastic surgery after suffering what Tietjens said was a terrible cut around an eye.
An injury list like that will leave any coach depressed, however Tietjens had reason to be optimistic after watching some of his country's best Sevens players in action on the weekend.
"It was pleasing today because I did pick up on a couple of players who could add value to the All Blacks Sevens team," Tietjens told allblacks.com.
"It was good to see the Beaudein Waakas and Lewis Ormonds, who are currently contracted to my team, playing in the tournament as well."
Other players that caught the eye of Tietjens include All Black Augustine Pulu andthe Ioane brothers, Akira and Rieko. Pulu was part of the Counties Manukau side that claimed the title.
"I was really pleased with the role that Augie Pulu [Augustine Pulu] played for them. He set up about four tries in that final and was deservedly given player of the tournament.
"I watched him right through. He's really coming to grips with the game. It's a big year for him to have a crack at this team to go to the Olympics and that added a bit more fuel to the fire really," he said.
@AllBlacks
