Rugby: Kiwi team in medal mode brings Rush of adrenalin

For the seven-a-side game New Zealand are not addressed as the All Blacks and nor do they transfix their opponents before the start of hostilities with the Maori war dance, the haka. That is performed as a post-match celebration, which means it will be a familiar sight at the Commonwealth Games.

New Zealand are ranked No 1 in the world in both the orthodox version of union and sevens and are warm favourites for the gold when the three-day tournament starts on Friday at the City of Manchester Stadium. "It's going to be a hard weekend," Eric Rush said. "Any one of half-a-dozen teams can win. That's one of the beauties of sevens." At the age of 37 Rush remains one of the beauties of the game, his extraordinary career being lengthened by the abbreviated form of rugby. There are several teenagers in the New Zealand squad who were barely born when Rush made his first appearance at the Hong Kong Sevens.

"Playing with youngsters helps to keep me young," Rush said. "We're also driven very hard." In his 15th year in sevens – "It doesn't seem that long when you say it quickly" – Rush, older than the management, struck gold at Kuala Lumpur four years ago.

He was born in Auckland in 1965, the son of a painter and decorator who emigrated from Belfast 50 years ago. At the age of 71 Mervyn Rush is still painting houses. "He meant to go to Australia, stopped off at a party in New Zealand and missed the boat," Rush said. "He's been there ever since." Australia's loss has been New Zealand's gain, although he could, of course, have played for Ireland. "They asked me once, although I don't think a Maori would have looked right in green socks. Anyway, Ireland aren't in the competition." Rush represented North Harbour and, in the Super 12, Waikato Chiefs, and had to wait almost three years before making his senior international debut, against Wales in 1995, replacing a certain Jonah Lomu.

Back-row forwards are almost grown on trees in New Zealand and Rush was a promising young flanker at a time when Michael Jones was without peer. Blessed with pace and a sidestep, Rush's conversion to wing earned him All Black status, the greatest honour the country can bestow, albeit for only nine Tests as Lomu became the biggest figure in world rugby.

But whereas Lomu, whose face helped to promote the Commonwealth Games, is not in Manchester, Rush captains a New Zealand squad that draws heavily on the sons of South Sea Islanders.

"We have two white guys, three Samoans, a Fijian, a Tongan and the rest are Maoris," Rush said. "It's a good mix. Pacific Islanders love sevens and are ideally suited to it. It's all about speed, handling ability, strength and endurance. It suits their nature; the game is so different from Test rugby with its defensive lines and lots of kicking."

It is no coincidence that among the contenders are Fiji and Samoa. England, serious converts to sevens this season, beating Fiji in the final in Hong Kong in March, are also Mancunian candidates. Their goal is to meet New Zealand in the final.

Since arriving at the athletes' village eight days ago, the New Zealand squad has been rising at 7am to train at Manchester Rugby Club. Before playing in the pool stages they will leave the camaraderie of the village and move into a hotel in Preston.

"We've had a few excursions, to Old Trafford, Blackpool and Liverpool," Rush said, "but no pubs. The beer can wait until after the tournament. We've got a job to do."

A job that has taken on an even greater significance in terms of national pride since the New Zealand Rugby Football Union lost the right to co-host, with unloved neighbours Australia, next year's World Cup. A few days ago the NZRFU board offered the country an apology as the chairman Murray McCaw and chief executive David Rutherford stepped down following a damning report of the Union's handling of World Cup negotiations.

The NZRFU said: "The board accepts full responsibility for its part in the loss of sub-hosting rights and also offers a formal apology to the public of New Zealand for its role in the loss." In April the International Rugby Board presented Australia with sole hosting rights for the showpiece events, criticising New Zealand officials for "consistent failures and wholly inappropriate behaviour". Rob Fisher, the NZRFU's man on the IRB, was elected chairman and Steve Tew named as acting chief executive.

It is one of the most dramatic developments in New Zealand rugby since John Hart was sacked as coach after the 1999 World Cup. Success on the field would be a welcome antidote, and while the All Blacks are threatening to win the Tri-Nations series, nothing less than a gold Rush in Manchester will suffice.