Lead columnist and ‘The Voice of Sevens’ Nigel Starmer-Smith gives his regular thoughts on the elite global game.

Fijian Mastery

Ryder kicked on from his previous season's displays throughout the 2006/07 season. This slight figure showed the world time and again his electrifying pace off the mark, his mesmerising steps off either foot, his beautiful gliding stride and speed over distance, set alongside his drop-goal-kicking skills- things that were to captivate every spectator in every stadium.

His presence alongside Serevi, the brilliant newcomer Emosi Vucago and experienced Lepani Nabuliwaqa ensured that Fiji would remain in the title hunt throughout the Seventh series. Yet somewhat predictably New Zealand were destined not to lie low for long in their bid to reclaim the title that had eluded them only that once.

Kiwis pinch title

In the closest of all finishes to an IRB season, the outcome hinged literally on the last tie - the Cup Final - on the last day of the last tournament of the season at Murrayfield. Here New Zealand's victory over Samoa stole victory from the grasp of Fiji and with it the champions' title to the previous owners. In a mark of how tight things were by the cumulative tournaments points tally read for New Zealand of 130 to Fiji's 128 - with Fiji having contrived to lose to Wales earlier at the Cup Quarter-final stage!

New Zealand's comeback had been nothing short of heroic - especially when you consider that only months previously they had been thrashed by Fiji in their own Wellington Westpac Stadium, 31-0, in the first of four consecutive semi-final defeats! But the mental as well as the physical strength of the two captains, D.J.Forbes and Tafai Ioasa, the guile of new half-back Nigel Hunt and fellow playmaker Tomasi Cama, an abundance of speed in through Zar Lawrence, Afeleke Pelenise and Steven Yates with able support form Edwin Cocker. They bought home the ultimate reward and the start of the most remarkable run of success in the 10-year history of the IRB Sevens.

Samoa join the P.A.R.T.Y

But whilst Fiji, South Africa, England and the rest had to accept second best to New Zealand's all-round talents, one new force emerged to mount a fresh challenge to the top quartet. Since the outset of the IRB World Series, the hard hitting Samoans had never been far out of contention. Losing semi-finalists five times in the very first season, up until Wellington 2007 they had contested 5 tournament finals and ultimately lost every one. So it was a well-deserved, dramatic and especially satisfying breakthrough when their first title came in New Zealand's own playground.

Since he first came on the scene in Hong Kong 2001, the mainspring of Samoa's squad had been their captain Uale Mai. In his 40th tournament the 28-year-old showed all his superb sevens acumen and playmaking talents to the full. With experienced key players around him, especially Ofisa Treviranus, Keneti Tofilau and Simaika Mikaele, the brilliant running of Lola Lui and Mikaele Pesamino, Samoa savoured the joy of a Cup final win. The following month the triumph was repeated. Samoa had truly arrived.

Blackout

Last season (2007-2008) the outcome was well-nigh done and dusted before the World Series was half-way concluded. Having won both the London and Edinburgh events at the back-end of 2007, New Zealand then continued where they had left off, winning the first five Cup Finals, in Dubai, George, Wellington, San Diego, and Hong Kong - in all seven tournament titles in a row, and ultimately victory in 47 games in succession, before losing to South Africa in the Adelaide Cup Final.

It was an extraordinary achievement, a fantastic tribute to the both the coaching and management skills of Gordon Tietjens and Ross Everiss, let alone the captaincy of DJ Forbes and his squad that pulled on the black jersey (remember not to call them the ‘All Blacks’, which applies only to the 15s team!) It is a record that I would never expect to be surpassed.

Only in London, the penultimate tournament, did they fail to make the Cup Final (six of which they had won - another record). That 'failure' was easily enough explained by the unavailability of outstanding performers Afeleke Pelenise, Solomon King, Roy Kinikinilau, equal top-try-scorer Steven Yates (27 tries in the previous 6 tournaments) and the player who's sudden arrival on the scene created many a shuddering impact - literally and metaphorically - of Jonah Lomu proportions - Victor Vito.

This converted Number 8 from Wellington, now on the wing, stunned opponents with his spectacular combination of speed and power. In no time he, like the other future absentees, was whisked off to the money and the world of Super 14s, but not before he had done his bit for the cause! All in all it was a staggering monumental triumph that left all other contenders at a loss as to how to better the Kiwis' physicality, support play, fitness levels and all-round pace of the current masters of the art.

New breed of 7s?

But whilst we were doubting that the order of things look unlikely to change for a while - along comes a new season. And once again a new and renewed force emerges to defy the merchants of doom and many a pundit! South Africa, fitter, faster, more cohesive and meticulously prepared at their new Stellenbosch Headquarters. Former sevens' captain and coach for the last four seasons, Paul Treu, come haring out of the traps and raced away to success.

The Springboks opted for pace over power but with a total commitment and a fitness level that allows them to never drop the pressure defence or flag in their support play. They overcame England, who equally looked a revived force, in the season's opener in the magnificent The Sevens stadium Dubai (soon to be World Cup venue) in front of 55,000! A week later it was Springboks versus New Zealand in the George Cup Final, and what a battle royale, won by the home team in the last moments of the game. Remarkably it was South Africa's first win at their home tournament.

Big guns watch out!

We always talk of the glorious unpredictability of Sevens and that has been increasingly the case. Already the fight for the Cup Finals is more wide-open than it has ever been. Every season the emerging nations of rugby, like Kenya, Portugal, Tonga, USA, Tunisia and Georgia narrow the gap with the 'big guns' ranked above them with the tiers below them doing the same. As any top coach will tell you, no longer is their an easy game in the IRB World Series Sevens. But the fun is just the same, the atmosphere like no other, a great day (or two!) for all the family with a multiplicity of entertainment between matches adding to the serious, thrilling action on the pitch.

An epic season lies ahead; next up Wellington, New Zealand and San Diego, USA the last preparations, the final outings, before the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens turns the spotlight on Sevens as never before.

24 nations, representing every continent, line up for the fifth Men's World Cup. For the first time in the competitions history 16 Women’s teams take the field in their first ever World Cup. Both events are to be played at the same time over the 3 days (March 5th-8th) at 'The Sevens' in Dubai.

Make it to any of this season's events if you can, you'll be glad you did, but at least catch them all on live, delayed or highlight form on television throughout 154 countries across the world - and in the UK get the best coverage yet, on Sky. And remember to get all the news and views of the best game going all year round, here on your very own Sevens web site UR7s.com.

And, just think, by this time next year we should be talking about Sevens Rugby – for Men and Women- as the new Olympic Sport!

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