17 Apr 2017

No one can be taken lightly, says NZ Sevens coach

1:44 pm on 17 April 2017

All Blacks Sevens coach Scott Waldrom says New Zealand is not in a position to take any country lightly on the World circuit.

DJ Forbes has been leading the NZ side in Singapore.

DJ Forbes has been leading the NZ side in Singapore. Photo: Photosport

New Zealand finished the Singapore leg a disappointing fifth this morning, while Canada recorded their first ever World Rugby Sevens tournament victory, after beating the USA 26-19 in the final.

Waldrom said despite picking themselves up after an early upset to Canada, that quarter-final boil-over undid them.

"We scraped ourselves back off the ground. We played well against the Kenyan team that played well this tournament and in the end to beat a strong South African team with only two men on the bench was some pretty gutsy stuff, but in the end it still goes back to that quarter-final [against Canada] and the hurt of losing that."

He said they were still searching for consistency.

"You know we get up when we know it's a big game and we don't quite front in games that we think we should win. We're not in a position to take any team lightly.

"You look at the final, you've got USA verses Canada, I don't think too many people would have thought that. So we certainly need to improve that and make sure we're consistent in six games."

New Zealand beat kenya 24-21 in the 5th place semi final before beating South Africa 17-12 to earn a 5th place finish.

New Zealand remain fourth overall on the ladder with two rounds remaining in the international series, behind South Africa, Fiji, and England.