DUBAI // Scott Curry has a tough act to follow when he arrives in the UAE as the new captain of the New Zealand sevens side next week.
Ahead of the most important season yet for the abridged format, Curry has been appointed to replace the most successful leader in the World Sevens Series.
DJ Forbes had been in charge of the All Blacks sevens side so long, he first lifted the Emirates International Trophy at the old Dubai Exiles ground in Al Awir, which has long since been demolished and consumed by the Meydan project. He even had hair back then.
Entering his 10th season on the circuit, and having accrued six world series winners’ medals, Forbes stood down this summer.
He wants to focus on being in the best possible shape come the end of the series, when sevens makes its Olympics debut.
Rather than cramping his style, his replacement is just happy Forbes is still around to lend a hand. “DJ is the face of sevens rugby, especially in New Zealand,” Curry said.
“He is synonymous with the game so they are pretty big shoes to fill, but having him still involved in the team for the world series is a definite positive.
“I can ask him plenty of questions. He has so much experience and has been here a long time. He knows the ropes.”
One question might be how to deal with a superstar of the XVs game breaking into a settled side full of successful sevens specialists just before a multi-sport event.
Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam were both part of the All Blacks squad who won the Rugby World Cup last month.
Each has now made themselves available for the short format, ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.
The profile of those recruits far exceeds that afforded to the sevens players. Williams is one of the best known sportsmen in any rugby code, while Messam was a successful captain of the sevens side before becoming an All Blacks regular.
When they join up with the sevens side later in the series, Curry may have to reintroduce himself to them.
“I haven’t played with Sonny Bill or Liam at all,” Curry said. “Liam has been involved in our team before, but obviously quite a while ago.
“I think he knows what to expect from Titch [coach Gordon Tietjens] but, on the flip side of that, the sevens game has evolved a lot since he was last involved.
“He will have to pick it up again and get used to the new style of play. It is an exciting time to have guys like that involved, as well.”
The senior All Blacks side famously have a “no divas”, or words to that effect, selection policy. If anything, their sevens colleagues are even less tolerant.
As such, World Cup, Super Rugby and National Rugby League winners’ medals will count for nothing when Williams joins up with his new teammates after Christmas.
“We definitely have a similar policy in our team,” Curry said. “The first criteria in making the team is that you have a good character and that you can fit into the team.
“If a player can’t do that, first and foremost, then they won’t get selected; talent comes after that.
“There is no questioning Sonny Bill’s talent whatsoever. Everyone would say that he is a phenomenal athlete, but anyone that has been involved with him in any other team also speaks extremely highly of him.
“They say how humble he is, and how hard working he is. I’m sure he will be no different when he comes into our set-up.
“He will be just like any other player. He will start from Square 1 and work up from there.”
The Olympics, and the arrival of Messam and Williams, can wait, though, as New Zealand are first focused on winning in the UAE.
“To do well in the series, you have to start well right at the beginning so it’s important we’re prepared for Dubai,” Tietjens said.
"It's been a long time since we have won in Dubai so it would be a great start to the season for us to win the first tournament."
pradley@thenational.ae
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