Nigel Hunt has been passed fit and selected to play in Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand Sevens squad for this weekend’s NZI Sevens in Wellington.
Hunt’s availability - in addition to the return of former captain Tafai Ioasa - is a major bonus for Tietjens, who has been able to pick nine of the 12 players who played here last year. Only Israel Dagg, Rene Ranger and Victor Vito have not experienced the cauldron of local anticipation at the Westpac and the experience in the squad reaffirms their position as favourites.
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"As New Zealand coach, for me, to win this tournament you have to win six finals and I've got a great forward pack in Edwin Cocker, DJ Forbes and Steven Yates, with Tafai to come off off the bench," said Tietjens.
Cocker, Forbes and Yates have played every game in the last four consecutive tournament victories, including every minute of those four finals, and outside them there is yet more experience in the backs.
"There is some wonderful talent," added Tietjens. "Tomasi Cama and Nigel Hunt are two great half backs, Lote Raikabula also. We're missing Afeleke Pelenise out wide but there's Zar Lawrence and Victor Vito has already produced it for me for someone so young. So big and powerful, he'll cause havoc among the sides we play against."
Should New Zealand slip up, though, the challenge comes from all sides of the draw. Samoa have Uale Mai and last year's man of the tournament Lolo Lui as well as speedy wing Mikaele Pesamino, while South Africa recall Marius Schoeman and Tobela Mdaka, while Fabian Juries will have benefited from a full run out with the side at the Darwin Sevens last week.
Australia name a strong side in Wellington, having beaten South Africa in the Darwin semi finals. Forward Luke Inman returns and plays for the first time in the Series alongside brother Mitchell.
Fiji are still missing William Ryder, Lepani Nabuliwaqa and Semisi Naevo - all apparently due to play in Hong Kong - but have match-winners in Neumi Nanuku and Emosi Vucago plus debutant Malaki Bakaniceva, whose pace assured him a place in Jo Savou's side.
Of the other challengers, England are likely to pose a threat. All time leading Sevens point-scorer Ben Gollings returns to add vital experience, while Matt Banahan, Ayoola Erinle and Danny Care all offer exciting options to coach Ben Ryan.
Tal Selley's inclusion is a major boost for new Wales coach Gareth Baber, Argentina set out to continue their impressive start to the 2007/08 IRB Sevens World Series with another experienced squad, including the leading try scorer of all time Santiago Gomez Cora, and Scotland welcome back Mike Adamson.
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