Suspension helped me prepare - Baker

WARWICK SMITH/The Manawatu Standard

BACK IN ACTION: Kurt Baker, playing for the Turbos this season, wil be in New Zealand Sevens colours in Dubai next week.

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Manawatu Turbos fullback Kurt Baker reckons his suspension during the NPC gave him a headstart on his New Zealand Sevens team-mates before last week's camp.

After Baker was given a four-week suspension for alleged touch judge abuse in Hawke's Bay in September he couldn't train with the Turbos squad.

The 21-year-old took the initiative and got stuck in with trainer Paul Hamson and focused on his sevens-specific work.

Gordon Tietjens repaid the faith and named Baker in his 12-strong national squad to head for Dubai along with Turbos' backs Junior Tomasi Cama and Lote Raikabula.

New Zealand have been grouped with World Cup sevens finalists Argentina as well as Portugal and France in Pool D for the opening leg of the series from December 4-5.

Baker said he was just happy to be playing rugby again.

"It's good to get the selection," he said yesterday."I was still pretty disappointed with the fact I got suspended to start with, but this has made it a bit better."

As for that suspension, Baker said it was in the past and he wanted to carve out a new chapter in his rugby career.

"I suppose some people still have their opinion about it, but I can't change it."

Being involved in the sevens squad means Baker was ineligible for a Super 14 wider training group spot, but he said he enjoyed the sevens game and the opportunity to see the world.

"It's awesome, you get to travel to all the places in the world and it's a good environment to be in. In a way it's relaxed, but it's tough."

Baker broke into the New Zealand Sevens squad last year and said having Cama and Raikabula gave him confidence at the first camp.

After that, fitting in wasn't a problem because in the sevens set-up there were no showponies, or "big heads", as Baker put it.

Tietjens was worried his squad would be underdone after they had a two-week lay-off following the NPC, but Baker said the side is on track to try and reclaim the international sevens crown that South Africa won last season.

"I think we are pretty confident, a lot of the senior guys are around that won the world series two years ago."

- © Fairfax NZ News