Gordon Tietjens has been in charge of New Zealand’s all-conquering Sevens programme for 14 years. In that time he has won eight out of nine possible World Series titles, all three Commonwealth Games gold medals on offer and the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
And yet even a track record as remarkable, as incomparable as his does not make him immune to the pressures involved in competing in the World Cup in Dubai in March. His employers at the New Zealand Rugby Union will be expecting nothing less than success and the Melrose Cup.
“Pressure is always on with any rugby team coming out of New Zealand. Whenever you put on that black jersey, there’s pressure,” said Tietjens.
“Rugby is our passion and no matter what kind of team you may have, strong or weak or with players injured, you’re still expected to win, but I’m used to the pressure by now.”
LISTEN
TO TIETJENS TALK TO TOTAL RUGBY >>
At last week’s Rugby World Cup Sevens pool allocation draw in Dubai, Tietjens' side were confirmed as top seeds in the 24-team men’s competition, but were still handed one of the toughest group assignments with powerful and unpredictable Tonga as well as hosts Arabian Gulf and Italy awaiting them in Pool A.
"It's going to be tough for every team and we've struck Tonga. The Pacific Islanders having their top players available for the World Cup will make them extremely tough. It's not an easy draw.
Too close to call
"I think this year the World Cup is going to be as even as you'll ever get it. There are four or five teams there who could win it. You can't discount England, who'll be strong, South Africa are the form team at the moment, Fiji and even Samoa at their best are more than capable, remembering too that they may also have some players from off-shore coming in to strengthen them. It could go any way.”
After the first two events of the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai and South Africa, New Zealand are in the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up. South Africa won both tournaments and have a maximum 40 points so far, 12 clear of Tietjens' charges.
Tietjens has named another exciting squad for 2009, again captained by powerful forward DJ Forbes, the IRB Sevens Player of the Year 2008, and New Zealand will start as one of the favourites when they set out to defend their home NZI Sevens title next weekend in Wellington.
However, the mastermind coach has still not ruled out the option of picking certain Super 14 players for the one-off World Cup event, providing they can make the switch to the abbreviated form of the Game in time.
"It's very difficult, there are some players who can make the transition to Sevens in a short space of time and having access to one player from each of the [Super 14] franchises excited me.
"But, having been through and done the exercise, it's likely that there'll only be one or two players that I will be taking. It's quite a challenge but some players have expressed a real interest to be involved,” he revealed.
Lomu: Unbelievable performance
New Zealand’s sole World Cup success came on Argentinean soil in 2001, a success Tietjens looks back on with fond recollection, and one that he strives for more than anything to reproduce.
"It was very special, winning the World Cup for the first time,” he said. “My captain, Eric Rush, got himself injured in the last game on day two against England and we missed him for the quarter finals, he had to fly back for an urgent operation after breaking his leg. And that was basically my team talk that year.
"We were also lucky that Jonah Lomu performed like he did. Jonah basically single-handedly beat Australia [in the final], what an unbelievable performance, I'll always remember that.
"We lost out to Fiji last time against a very good side, so we'd really like to turn it around this time and give it a good crack. Being the world champions for four years is something really quite special."
Buy your tickets now!
Tickets for the Rugby World Cup Sevens are currently on sale online via www.rwcsevens.com and by calling 800 4669 or +971 4 210 8567 for international customers.
They are also on sale at Emirates Headquarters, the Dnata Travel Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, at Costa outlets (Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi) and MMI outlets (Al Wasl Road, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road). Opening hours for Costa outlets are 9am to 11pm and MMI opening hours are 10.30am to 9pm. You must hold a valid alcohol licence to enter any MMI outlet.
The cost of tickets is: Thursday, 5 March - Dhs 50; Friday, 6 March - Dhs 200; Saturday, 7 March - Dhs 300 or season tickets for all three days are available for Dhs 450. General admission for children under 12 is free, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Corporate hospitality packages and reserved seating tickets are also on sale at www.rwcsevens.com and International travel packages are available through www.gulliverstravel.co.uk.
Abridged from an interview with Gordon Tietjens for this week's Total Rugby Radio show, available from Thursday via this website and also broadcast around the world by Total Rugby's partner radio stations, as well as on i-Tunes as a podcast.
