Tietjens will unleash a fit Samoa 7s team at Sydney 7s

The Samoan 7s team is camping in New Zealand over the holiday period and working on fitness and combinations for the side ahead of the Sydney 7s.

Sir Gordon Tietjens says his side has run off any festive season indulgences at a series of training camps and will be fighting fit when the World Series resumes in Sydney tomorrow.

The Manu 7s are in ninth place after the opening two rounds in Dubai and Cape Town.

Tietjens says Samoa handles the physicality very well but is lacking the pace of the game.

Tofatu Solia, David Afamasaga and Darren Kellet‑Moore join the returning pair in the forwards, while captain Alatasi Tupou leads the backs with Murphy Paulo and Tila Mealoi flanking him in the halves and Tomasi Alosio, Neria Fomai, Joe Perez, Tom Iosefo and Elisapeta Alofipo further out.

Samoa will take on the Fiji Airways Men’s 7s team in a blockbusting first pool match at 8.28pm tomorrow.

Fiji will then meet Russia in their second game at 5.09pm this Saturday before taking on New Zealand at 8.42pm this Saturday.

The quarterfinals will start at 12.28pm this Sunday, the semifinals are at 6.36pm while the final will kick off at 9.48pm.

In the women’s competition, the Fijiana will be playing their first game against defending champion Canada at 11.22am tomorrow.