The Dominion Post: Sherwin Stowers' family think he is Superman and the statistics provide the proof.

Already boasting a series leading 15 tries from two tournaments, the fleet-footed Counties-Manukau Steelers wing is poised to be the star of the NZI Sevens, which kick off in Wellington today.

And cheering loudest from the stands will be Stowers' two proud older brothers and a cousin.

"I've never played in Wellington or been as a fan," Stowers said. "But they're coming down and dressing up. They're wearing Superman T-shirts with `Sherwin Stowers' and my number printed on the back.

"They'll probably be on the juice but I'll be looking out for them after the games."

After a "rugged" upbringing in Mangere East, Stowers excelled at De La Salle College and romped into New Zealand age-group teams.

He cracked the national sevens team at the tender age of 18 but then admits his career hit a wall.

"As an 18-year-old, it's easy to get distracted. But I decided to buck up my ideas and I came back last year and it has worked out good."

Now 23, wiser and fitter, Stowers had a strong NPC campaign for Counties-Manukau last season that resulted in a three-year extension with the Steelers.

But dreams of a Super 14 contract and the All Blacks can wait. The mission today is to give his family, and 34,997 others, something to cheer about.

"It's my first Wellington tournament and I've heard a lot of hype about it. I'm really looking forward to it."

Stowers said he developed his hot-stepping style while watching diminutive former England wing Jason Robinson.

"We're the same build, we're not the tallest guys but we're the nippiest and quickest. I've moulded my game on him and he worked well off the ball as well. So I try and work hard off the ball too."

Stowers said the crowd in Wellington would rival the atmosphere of Dubai in December.

"Dubai was pretty packed, there was about 30 or 40,000. This will be outstanding.

"I think I play better when I've got pressure there and the excitement is there. As a player, this is what you look forward to ... playing in front of big crowds, in big stadiums. I love the pressure."

Decorated New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens, who has unearthed gems such as Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu, said Stowers was key to their Wellington chances.
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"He has flashes of brilliance," Tietjens said. "Just his out-and-out pace, he can certainly score tries from way out. If you can score tries like that ... then you're certainly going to be a real threat to other sides."

Tietjens added the sky was the limit for Stowers' career in the 15-man game. "He's got so much natural ability and talent. Last year he played pretty well for Counties and on the sevens field. He's the top tryscorer on the world series at the moment – 15 tries, which, in two tournaments, is quite outstanding."

AT A GLANCE

Name: Sherwin Stowers
Age: 23
School: De La Salle College, Auckland
Province: Counties-Manukau (20 NPC games)
Other teams: Auckland and NZ age-group, Blues development, NZ sevens
Physical: 1.78m, 90kg
Nickname: Sherz
Career highlight: "Scoring eight tries when I was 6."
Top three all-time All Blacks: Tana Umaga, Frank Bunce, Zinzan Brooke

05 February, 2010