Iconic coach Gordon Tietjens is set to face off against his old team when he makes his Samoan coaching debut at the Wellington sevens in January.
Samoa has been drawn to face New Zealand in pool play at the next world series event.
Gordon Tietjens has been watching the first two series tournaments from the stands after signing with the Samoa Union in October and will officially take the helm as coach in Wellington.
Gordon Tietjens signed with the Samoa Rugby Union in October Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Fresh from a disappointing Cape Town event where they finished at last alongside Japan, Samoa have been drawn to take on the home team at the Wellington tournament on opening day.
New Zealand interim-coach Scott Waldrom says it won't be a big deal for his players, given Tietjens' observer role with Samoa during the first two tournaments.
"It's probably not going to feel strange," Waldrom said.
"It will just be seeing him again, you know we have seen him around for two weeks walking around in a Samoan tshirt. So it won't be anything new to the boys, it will probably be a little bit just different for him now that he is going to be on the sideline.
"The group has moved on pretty quickly and we're just focussed on our job and creating our own legacy now."
The All Blacks Sevens team have moved to fifth in the overall standings after their third place finish in Cape Town and Waldrom said he is happy with the improvement shown from the begining of the series a week ago.
Scott Waldrom has been co-coach of New Zealand for the first two Sevens events Photo: PHOTOSPORT
