NZ coach Gordon Tietjens defends Sonny Bill Williams' sevens form

News - AU Rugby

NZ coach Gordon Tietjens defends Sonny Bill Williams' sevens form

ESPN staff

April 11, 2016

© Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

All Blacks Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens has jumped to the defence of star recruit Sonny Bill Williams, saying's he's on track to peak at the Olympic Games in Rio di Janeiro.

The former NRL star hasn't exactly set the world on fire since his switch to rugby's shortened form, prompting former All Blacks forward Murrad Mexted to question his suitability for the game.

Mexted raised concerns over Williams' ability to perform key sevens duties such as restarts and scrums, despite the All Blacks' strong performance in Hong Kong where they finished runners-up to Fiji.

But Tietjens is confident Williams is making positive progress towards Rio where rugby will make its long-awaited return to the Olympics.

"He's well on track," Tietjens told New Zealand's Radio Sport on Tuesday.

"He's got a superb attitude. I mean, defensively, first class and you need to be a good defender in the game of sevens."

Williams and the New Zealand squad head across to Singapore this week for the eighth stop on the World Series circuit, before the season wraps up with events in Paris and London in May.

Tietjens said an injury-free Williams will be ready for Rio, saying the final three tournaments would provide further opportunity for improvement: "we'll see someone who's excelling in the game of sevens".

Meanwhile, the Olympic bid of former Wallabies winger Nick Cummins has taken a hit with the Australian set to miss a month of rugby due to an ankle injury.

Cummins made his return to the sevens circuit in Hong Kong, but managed just one start after injuring his ankle in Australia's opening victory over Argentina.

© ESPN staff

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NZ coach Gordon Tietjens defends Sonny Bill Williams' sevens form