Rugby World Cup 2015 winner Liam Messam has been drafted into the New Zealand sevens squad for Las Vegas and Vancouver following a six-year absence from the format.
The 31-year-old All Blacks back-row last played sevens back in 2010 when he helped New Zealand win gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. While Messam has been named in the 14-man squad, it's not yet known whether he will make the final 12 for Las Vegas on 4-6 March with head coach Sir Gordon Tietjens only too aware of the fitness challenge for 15s players crossing over.
"The big key when you have been out of the game for a long time is getting sevens fit and if you’re not, the game is hard to get into. He’s noticed that and he’s been working very hard to get there," said Tietjens.
New Zealand currently sit joint top of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 69 points, along with South Africa and Fiji. Tietjens has made five changes to the side that won in Sydney, following the return of several key players to Super Rugby, including brothers Akira and Rieko Ioane.
Having never won in Las Vegas though, there's an added incentive for Tietjens and his new-look squad.
"The big key when you have been out of the game for a long time is getting sevens fit"
“We would love to win in Las Vegas,” said Tiejtens. “We’re going for another good performance like the previous two. We want to be really positive, particularly with the new team we will have and that’s a good challenge.
“The new squad has pulled together really well since the start of the year on the back of two sub-par performances where we were decimated by injuries. Those two wins in Wellington and Sydney have put us right back up the top with Fiji and South Africa so no complaints there and I’d love to continue that form.”
New Zealand squad: Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Gillies Kaka, Josh Van Lieshout, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson (captain), Sione Molia, Lewis Ormond, Sherwin Stowers, Beaudein Waaka, Regan Ware, Sonny Bill Williams.
KENYA CHANGE FOUR FOR VEGAS AND VANCOUVER
Series debutant Samuel Oliech is one of four changes to the Kenya squad for the North American leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which takes in tournaments in Las Vegas, USA (4-6 March) and Vancouver, Canada (12-13 March).
Dennis Ombachi, who scored the try that secured Kenya's Olympic qualification, has been called up for his first appearance of the season, while Augustine Lugonzo and Leonard Mugaisi also return to the fray after last appearing in Dubai and Cape Town respectively.
Donald Aluoch, Nelson Oyoo, Eden Agero are rested and Bush Mwale was not considered due to injury.
Collins Injera will be looking to overtake Ben Gollings in second place in the World Series try-scoring charts after retaining his place in the squad. The 29-year-old is only six tries short of Gollings’ total of 220 and 16 behind record holder and World Rugby sevens columnist, Santiago Gomez Cora of Argentina.
Lying eighth in the overall standings after the first four rounds, on 42 points, Kenya are paired in Pool A in Las Vegas with New Zealand, Portugal and Russia. The All Blacks Sevens are one of three sides tied at the top on 69 points, while Portugal and Russia are 15th and 16th respectively.
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“It is tricky to play teams that are below us because they come at you hard and look to take your scalp. Our last outing against New Zealand was not pretty and we'll look to improve our performance and not lift our foot off the pedal,” said coach Benjamin Ayimba.
Kenya were on the wrong end of a punishing 36-0 defeat to New Zealand in the Wellington Cup quarter-finals, but they have beaten both Portugal and Russia this season. Last year in Vegas, Kenya defeated Portugal on their way to winning the Bowl final.
Kenya squad: Andrew Amonde (captain), Collins Injera, Oscar Ouma, Humphrey Kayange, Augustine Lugonzo, Biko Adema, William Ambaka, Oscar Ayodi, Dennis Ombachi, Billy Odhiambo, Leonard Mugaisi, Samuel Oliech.