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Hosea Gear on his way to the try line. - Source: Photosport -
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Gordon Tietjens is a wily operator and appears to have kept plenty of powder dry ahead of today's quarterfinals at the Wellington Sevens.
All Blacks wing Hosea Gear missed out on the last chapter of the New Zealand-France rugby rivalry, but after playing a sparing part on the opening day may be unleashed for today's abbreviated rematch.
Not that New Zealand appeared to need Gear's imposing figure as they swept through their pool unbeaten with wins over Scotland (29-7), Japan (54-0) and Samoa (19-7), but he looms as a trump card all the same.
Gear skipped the first match, grabbed a brace against Japan and just a couple of minutes against Samoa and along with big Bryce Heem, will have fresh legs for the run at the title.
Tietjens wasn't giving much away, but his smile said more than words as he surveyed his side's run through pool play after a shaky start against Scotland, which saw Toby Arnold ruled out of the tournament after just 15 seconds with a knee injury that will cruelly sideline him for up to nine months.
"I'm pretty pleased really. It was good to get that wake-up call against Scotland. If you look overall quite a few of the better teams have been scratchy today," he said.
"We haven't played together over New Year, Christmas and to come straight back into it you need to get a bit of game time.
"We did some very good things in that second half against Scotland and carried it through to Japan."
Anyone doubting the increasingly competitive nature of rugby's abbreviated game need only cast their eyes over the other quarterfinals with Tonga and Canada bucking their rankings to advance to the top eight.
Tonga will play England and Canada will meet Samoa, while South Africa booked a potentially unlucky match-up against Fiji.
None of the sides played with the potency of New Zealand who scored 17 tries, many the result of the hard running of big wing Frank Halai, Charles Piutau and forward Solomon King.
Tomasi Cama was also superb, while DJ Forbes showed his leadership with a timely second-half hattrick after New Zealand trailed the Scots 7-0 at halftime.
Gear looked a man among boys at times during the romp over Japan and with Heem, changes the dynamic of the Kiwi line-up.
Their opponents France snuck through to the top eight in typical Les Bleus style, losing to Canada first up, edging Kenya by a try, then turning down an easy shot at goal only to snap a drop goal after a complicated set play.
Wellington Sevens live on TV One and live-streamed on tvnz.co.nz on Friday from 12.30pm and midday on Saturday. Plus catch up OnDemand. [link - < http://tvnz.co.nz/video ]
