Victor Vito has enjoyed mixed success in Dubai, having captained New Zealand to the final of the IRB Under 19 World Championship in 2006 and then caught the eye on his IRB Sevens debut the following year as part of the victorious side.
His performances as part of the squad that won six of the eight legs on the IRB Sevens World Series in 2007/08, including an unbeaten run stretching to a record 47 matches, helped earn him a Super 14 contract with the Hurricanes.
However, the lure of adding Rugby World Cup Sevens success to the IRB Series overall crown was enough to entice Vito back into the New Zealand Sevens fold as the only Super 14 player to make Gordon Tietjens' squad.
“It’s always good to get back to the Sevens. This World Cup scenario comes around every four years, so it’s a great opportunity,” admitted Vito, who will turn 22 at the end of March.
New Zealand have failed to repeat their success in the Series this season, having failed to win any of the four events so far, losing two finals - in George and on home soil in Wellington.
So while Sevens might offer a more relaxed atmosphere than the 15-a-side game and Vito the chance to get reaquainted with his former teammates, make no mistake, New Zealand are in Dubai with one goal - to lift the Melrose Cup again.
Humbling comparison
“It (Sevens) is definitely fun and relaxed, but there's a serious end to the tournament now with the World Cup. It’s good to get back with the boys, but at the same time we’ve got to keep the goal in mind.”
The pressure is always there for any New Zealand team which pulls on the famous black jersey; it goes with the territory and success is always expected, but it isn't only pressure from outside that lies on the players' shoulders.
“With ourselves we haven’t won a Sevens Series (event yet this season), so we are really putting the pressure on ourselves to win.”
If New Zealand can rediscover the winning formula in a season when injuries to key players have taken their toll and emulate the team of 2001 by being crowned world champions, then an often made comparison might become more widespread.
Vito's imposing physique and the instant impact he made on the Sevens scene have led to comparisons with former All Black wing Jonah Lomu, a player first unleashed in Sevens and the star of that 2001 final victory over Australia.
However, such a comparison is both a positive and negative for Vito.
“Yeah the Jonah thing, if you’ve seen the guy there is no comparison. So it’s humbling to be compared to him but I’m me, and he is him.”
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