Tietjens Reflects On Third Placing In London

All Blacks sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens is reflecting on an overall third place in the world series.

Their plate final win in London saw them finish below South Africa and Fiji in the season standings.

Tietjens said that was a realistic goal for his injury-ravaged side.

"Our conditioning levels and the demands of a sevens player is huge so finding replacements for those crucial players when you lose a Dixon and a Webber, tough, but it is what it is.

"It's been a horrendous year, probably the most horrendous year of injuries that I've ever had as a coach and unfortunately we got lots of rugby players but not a tremendous amount of sevens players.

Sonny Bill Williams is the latest problem, bowing out in New Zealand's quarter final loss to the United States with a calf injury.

The state of his calf injury is unclear.

Scotland has won its maiden title, beating South Africa 27-26 in the final.

Fiji's Jarryd Hayne received minimal game time.

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