This Is American Rugby: How's it been getting back into the swing of things?
Zack Test: It's been very good to see the boys again. We're a very close knit group of guys. We all hang out with each other. It's good getting back into it. We haven't been doing a lot of rugby-related work so far but we've been doing a lot of still-work and fitness. We've played a few fun games to get the culture back. It's been enjoyable. There has been a comfort but at the same time discomfort knowing the way we ended at the World Cup. We've got to keeping stepping forward and progressing. We can't just go back to what we did at the end of the season, we've got to take another step. We're comfortable but we're also uncomfotable in the sense that we have to make improvements.
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TIAR: Did the pressure of avoiding relegation at the end of the season help the team?
ZT: I think it helped a little bit but more it was the frustration of not playing together well as a team. We banded together and said we don't want to lose any more, we're going to win. We're going to play the whole 14 minutes and make sure we win. At the World Cup the will to win was there but the bounce of the ball went the wrong way a couple of times and the tournament was over. I wouldn't say the pressure of relegation was the reason we won, I would say that it was a factor but it was more of an eye opening that we have to get our stuff together and playing good rugby.
TIAR: How do you keep the momentum going this season?
ZT: Building off the confidence that we can do it but also knowing that it just doesn't come automatically. We have to work really hard this offseason to get our combinations right and our skills perfected. We need to get out strong in Fiji and the Gold Coast. We can't wait around for things to happen like last year in the Gold Coast.
TIAR: How beneficial will playing in Fiji the week before the Gold Coast be to the team?
ZT: I think it will be great. Getting back as a team and not having the pressure of being on the Series will help us get out the kinks. Fijian teams are strong and there will be other IRB teams so it give us a great place to play. From a fitness perspective it will be good to get our wind back. Going into the Series having a tournament already under our belt will be a great step.
TIAR: How important is it to get off to a good start to the season?
ZT: It's huge. We've been talking about it in camp. We want to put the right step forward now that the cycle for the Olympics is here. We can't wait for things to happen for us. That's the way 7's is. You have to go get the ball, you have to keep it, and you have to play.
TIAR: How has the transition gone from coach Magleby to coach Hawkins?
ZT: It's been really good. Matt's been with the team for six years. He was an unbelievable captain. He's very interested in taking Mags philosophies and principles and taking them one step further. I'm very excited about the upcoming season.
TIAR: You broke your hand at the World Cup. How is it healing?
ZT: I'm not yet doing ball work and tackling because my finger isn't a 100% yet. I've been doing fitness and helping the new guys get adjusted. I'm a couple of weeks out.
TIAR: How disappointing was it for you to miss the Maccabai Games because of your hand?
ZT: It was very frustrating. I have family in Israel I wanted to see so it was frustrating from that angle as well. I wanted to play with guys I had played with four years ago like Dallen Stanford and Kevin Swiyrn. It was great to see them win the 7's tournament. They played some very good teams to win gold. It's exciting and great for our program. We still have some things to work on but we'll be there in the next four years contending for double gold.
TIAR: What is your personal goal for the season?
ZT: To do my role the best as I can and help our team to a top five finish. Want want to beat the top eight teams consistently. We want to be a consistently solid 7's team and I want to be a part of that.