New All Blacks sevens coach Clark Laidlaw is ready to right the wrongs of last season.
New Zealand finished fourth in the 2016/2017 season, their worst finish since the 08/09 season and on top of that, they didn't make a single final in 10 World Series tournaments.
The team has just started pre-season training at their base in Mt Maunganui, ahead of the first legs of the World Series in Dubai and Cape Town in December - and Laidlaw is ready to lead the troops back to winning ways.
"It is obviously off-season, so there has been a bit to do which we are getting through now," explained Laidlaw.
"We have only been together for two weeks. We had nine players here last week and 15 this week so there is some work to get through."
Laidlaw says he has been trying to embed new expectations in his side ahead of the new season.
"Our expectations are to improve, our expectations are to prepare well - and get those two things right first," he said.
"We want to go to tournaments and win, that's our expectation. We have lots of work to do as we have not won a tournament for a while and that is what we are striving to do."
New recruit Bailey Simonsson says the players still in the squad from last season seem equally as determined to write those wrongs.
"I have only been here for two weeks, but the boys have been very welcoming for me personally so it has been easy to fit in," said Simonsson.
"The boys all seem really disappointed in the results last year and they seem really switched on this year and I think we have got a great bunch to push for a title.
And Simonsson said he was excited for what was ahead on a personal level, too.
"I think if I can keep learning the basics of the game and when I get the chance to play, I can put my best foot forward to earn selection in this team and we will see what happens from there."
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