Pundits' opinions are often sought in the world of sport. Former players are the most popular, current coaches and players too but has anyone ever thought to ask the director?

It would be tough to find anyone anywhere in the world who has watched more international Sevens rugby, and in more detail, than Steve Jamieson.

He is not a coach, not a player, not even a commentator. He is a rugby television director, the man who decides which pictures are shown and when.

Jamieson is a New Zealander so in many ways his passion for rugby is in-bred but his love and knowledge of Sevens has grown steadily over the 10-year lifespan of the IRB Sevens World Series. Working for TVNZ, his involvement with the Series began at its inception in 1999 and since then he has sat vigil over 2070 matches, and counting.

Rock 'n' Roll Rugby

"It's a different game entirely," he said. "People get trapped into thinking that it's just a game of rugby but Sevens is much more expansive, a lot wider so we need to use the cameras and cut from the wide shot a lot more.

"Also, because the crowd gets involved so much more with Sevens, there are a lot more crowd shots. It's basically a lot faster than 15s, where you can stop, set up, get time to think, analyse the game a bit more. Sevens is just Rock 'n' Roll basically."

All of which makes it even more unbelievable that Jamieson prefers never to miss a match. While the commentators hand over to a colleague after each tie, Jamieson remains, the ever-present.

"Steve is the best in the business, simple as that," said commentator Keith Quinn, a long time colleague at TVNZ. "He's the guy in your ear, calling the shots. I've been doing this for a long time but it's still reassuring to know that he's there in the truck.

"I've no idea how he does it - we're talking so our voices would go if we even tried to do every match but the powers of concentration he must possess are incredible."

Heard but not seen 

The Sevens game has taken Jamieson, Quinn and Nigel Starmer-Smith far and wide, to Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens venues throughout Asia, Oceania and North and South America.

"The main guys I work with are Nigel [Starmer-Smith], Keith Quinn, Wyn Gryffydd and [former Tonga captain] Willie Los'e," said Jamieson. "When I was growing up in New Zealand I'd turn on the TV at 3am and hear Nigel's commentary so to work with him is special. Wyn from Wales is a great guy, Keith Quinn I've travelled the world with and Willie, he's a special character - I better leave it at that!"

Starmer-Smith himself added: "Over 30 years in the business I've worked with pretty much ever rugby television producer and director out there and I can say with no hesitation at all that this guy is the best."

Unparalleled in Sevens 'caps' then, who does Jamieson fancy for this Hong Kong title?

"I guess New Zealand. People say that it would be good for the Series to have someone else win but I think it's good for the series wondering who's going to finally beat them this year? They want to go a whole series unbeaten and it's building up a lot of tension around who's going to finally stop them. I think it's great.

"So I guess New Zealand, but Fiji do look good on paper.."

With that final caveat surely only a fool would bet against him having called the winner..