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Tietjens get call up for the All Blacks

Tuesday 28 June 2011 (IRB.com)

New Zealand's Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has been invited by All Blacks coach Graham Henry to take part in the side's preparations in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup.

Tietjens won the HSBC Sevens World Series title in June, his ninth Series crown in all. Having also captured four Commonwealth Games gold medals and a Rugby World Cup Sevens title in 2001, he has clearly discovered his own winning formula.

Over 17 years in the role as national Sevens coach, which involves both scouting and coaching, he has also converted 37 All Blacks through his gruelling Sevens regime, so Graham Henry's keenness to include him for two one-day sessions in Wellington over the next fortnight comes as no surprise.

"I've never been at an All Blacks training as such to help out," Tietjens said.

"It's really exciting and humbling to be involved. If I can assist in any way to help them achieve their objective – and that's to win the World Cup."

Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu are two of his first All Black graduates, while in more recent times the likes of Liam Messam, Victor Vito, Cory Jane, Adam Thomson Joe Rokocoko, Victor Vito, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger, Israel Dagg, Ma'a Nonu and Jerome Kaino have benefited from his insistence on the highest standards both on and off the pitch.

Sharpness and skill levels

"Those players have acknowledged that Sevens has really helped their game," the 55-year-old said.

Gear and Messam were standouts on last year's European conquest after their Sevens stint, while Ben Smith, Zac Guildford and Thomson regained confidence to put themselves foremost in the World Cup frame.

"They enjoyed that experience but, more importantly, they developed their sharpness and their skill levels," Henry said of Tietjens' call-up.

"It's a different game with its space and opportunity. We thought we'd try and get a bit of that rub-off."

Tietjens is renowned for his excruciating training regime, although the initial All Blacks squad can breathe easy as the two planned sessions are focusing on proficiency.

"It'll be skills based but they'll be working really hard because we've got a lot of ground to cover," Tietjens promised.

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