The Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, continues to stand by Manu Samoa Sevens Coach Sir Gordon Tietjens.

Despite the team’s disappointing performance in Sydney last week where they failed to win a game during the pool round, Tuilaepa is optimistic the team is not far away from hitting top gear.

“It’s okay, we’re nearly there,” he told Radio Samoa in Auckland. 

“We just need to be consistent.”

Asked if he still had faith in Tietjens given the team’s inconsistent and sometimes below par performances, Tuilaepa, who is also the Prime Minister, was certain.

“No other coach has beaten his record,” Tuilaepa responded, “he’s still the best coach in the world.”

Tuilaepa added that perhaps Sir Gordon is “quite sad now” that of all the teams he’s coached, “this is the first team where he has given everything and yet they’ve become number one in being unrecognizable.”

The team performed quite well in Wellington making Cup quarterfinals. But they failed to back that up in Sydney where they lost to England, Japan and Fiji in their pool matches.

They are currently ranked 10th heading to the next legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Las Vegas and Canada.