If Scotland are to recover from disappointing IRB Sevens World Series performances in Hong Kong and Adelaide, and make a first semi final of the season at home in Edinburgh, they will certainly have to do it the hard way.
When the draw was announced earlier this week for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens, the final event in the 2007/08 Series, Scotland coach Stephen Gemmell might have been forgiven for assuming a mis-print. No error had been made, though, his side will face South Africa, Australia and Argentina in the pools on day one.
"If you'd told me that was going to be the draw beforehand I'd have been hugely disappointed," he told Total Rugby.
"It's our home tournament and you'd like to have thought that we would have had a more favourable draw, but saying that we've beaten all three of those teams in the last year so as a coach you have to go in with hope and expectation.
"We are where we are, we didn't get any points from the last two events so we are in the bottom four seeds. We were massively disappointed, especially in Hong Kong. We were very close to making the quarters again in Adelaide, but it is going to get more and more difficult when you see what other countries are looking to do with Sevens programmes, with full time players and focusing just on Sevens."
Under Gemmell, Scotland's focus in Sevens has been on developing young Academy-based players. While the experience they gain on the Series is unparalleled at their age group in terms of the pressure-cooker atmospheres they play in, it is arguable that genuine development only happens if the team is winning regularly enough to face the top nations in knock-out rugby. Having reached nine consecutive Cup quarter finals, Scotland's form ebbed in Hong Kong against sides bolstered by bigger-name players.
Gemmell: Doing what's right for Scotland
"We need to look at our programme, make sure that we do what's right for us, but at the same time evolve to remain competitive on the Series and continue to produce players," said Gemmell.
Gemmell's main hurdle lies in the fact that the vast majority of the training his players do is geared solely to the 15-a-side game. When they come up against other teams who concentrate more often on Sevens-specific fitness and skills, for example Kenya or New Zealand, they struggle - particularly on day two when legs are tired and minds frazzled.
The recent Melrose Sevens did, however, provide a timely confidence boost. Gemmell entered a side called the 'Scottish Thistles', which was made up almost entirely of Scotland Sevens players, and victory followed in the Cup against Leicester Tigers.
"Anybody at Melrose, or at Murrayfield last year, would have seen that the passion is still there for Sevens in Scotland. We just need to look at how we use it," he said.
"I'm obviously passionate about it but the important thing for me is that the players are passionate about it. Chris Fusaro is a shining example - he's an 18-year old, he's played in all six tournamnents so far this year, he's been one of our top performers and he's improved massively as a result, not only as a Sevens player but probably more importantly for Chris, as a fifteens player.
For the final Murrayfield event, on 31 May and 1 June, Gemmell is hoping that he might be able to draft in some proven Sevens stars in the likes of Colin Gregor, Andrew Turnbull or Max Evans, but either way he remains a firm believer that Sevens is still doing its job.
"The players are passionate, the spectators are, Scottish Rugby is firmly behind the squad, it remains a key vehicle for developing players and we'll continue to strive for that ever-elusive Cup semi final, and beyond."
TICKETS!
Tickets can be bought through Scottish Rugby's tournament website – www.edinburgh7s.com – or via the Scottish Rugby ticket hotline on 0131 346 5100, which is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
