In the run-up to the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, we preview all the teams, including Pool E where Fiji and Samoa clash in a South Sea island tussle and also face Canada and Chinese Taipei.
They say that in Fiji the Hong Kong Sevens is bigger than the Olympic Games, which makes the job of coach Iliesa Tanivula even more daunting this weekend as his side prepares to take on Samoa in pool play with only the winner of the group guaranteed a Cup quarter final place.
Fiji brought back a clutch of big names for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai a few weeks ago but ended up being humbled by Kenya in the Cup quarter finals.
"In the World Cup there was a lot of expectation on those guys, our overseas-based players because of the past performance, but past performance guarantees nothing," Tanivula said.
"With this squad I think we've had enough time together in Fiji. It's a totally different squad but these are the guys who have put their hands up in the local scene so it's time to get them out and expose them at this level."
Somehow Tanivula now needs to strike the fine balance between getting back to winning ways and building for the future, and in order to achieve that has recalled a couple of old hands to help nurture the new younger talent.
"Emosi Vucago has been here, Nasoni Roko has been here, a few of the players have been around so it's good to have them in with a mix of the young players," he said.
Back when Tanivula played Sevens for New Zealand under Gordon Tietjens there were very few sides capable of winning the biggest tournaments, the likes of Fiji out on their own in a select band. The current world 'pecking order' must therefore come as a shock to the former Super 14 wing, for whom the likes of Kenya, USA, Portugal and even Samoa would never have posed nearly as much of a threat.
"It's a good thing, it's healthy for world Sevens and every team that has stepped up in preparation. Of course they've developed well and it showed in the World Cup, it wasn't a surprise, it's something that most of the teams have been working on, so for us I think it's another building phase.
"But there's magic there in the Hong Kong Sevens. It's the oldest Sevens tournament in the world and of course the Fijian people really look forward to it."
Pool E low-down
Fiji
IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Cup SF, lost v South A frica 7-10
George: Cup SF, lost v South Africa 7-21
Wellington: Plate SF, lost v Wales 12-14
San Diego: Cup QF, lost v England 10-12
Current Series Position:
5th, 32 pts
Hong Kong Sevens 2008:
Cup SF, lost v New Zealand 0-34
Form guide:
All of Fiji will be hoping for better in Hong Kong, where they have such a proud tradition of achievement. Simply not at the races in their Melrose Cup quarter final against Kenya in Dubai, the heads were down, confidence and fluency absent and those magical touches not quite there from the returning 15-a-side stars, from whom perhaps far too much was expected.
The fitness levels and training required in the modern Sevens game probably put the likes of Delasau, Daunivucu, Naevo and Satala on the back foot, so perhaps there is better to come now from a new set of young players. Coach Iliesa Tanivula will be hoping so, although he has suffered a set-back with the withdrawal through injury of leading point-scorer this season Peni Rokodiva. Can they recapture the magic of old?
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Samoa
IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Plate Final, won v Kenya 12-7
George: Plate SF, lost v England 19-20
Wellington:Shield SF, lost v Niue 12-21
San Diego: Plate SF, lost v kenya 12-17
Current Series Position:
8th, 16pts
Hong Kong Sevens 2008:
Cup SF, lost v South Africa 10-12
Form guide:
No one team has relied so heavily on the performance of one player as Samoa over the past few years. Now embarking on a record 58th tournament, Uale Mai is so often the difference between winning and losing for Rudi Moors' side. Rupena Levasa and Alatasi Tupou may be the up and coming playmakers but, compared with the former skipper, both are still learning their trades.
Mikaele Pesamino's inclusion is often almost as crucial and the absence of new captain, powerhouse forward Ofisa Treviranus, is a big blow but they arguably still start as favourites against Fiji. Will be looking to kick-start after a poor first half of the World Series.
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Canada
IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Wellington: Shield SF, lost v Scotland 7-14
San Diego: Shield Final, won v Uruguay 31-7
Current Series Position:
Unranked, 0 pts
Hong Kong Sevens 2008:
Plate SF, lost v France 5-36
Form guide:
Without doubt Canada were one of the World Cup teams to give a good account of themselves - notably an inspired opening salvo to knock over more fancied Scotland and then a terrific effort that so nearly took out South Africa.
No longer 'core' ever-presents on the Series, all credit to Shane Thompson and his squad for rising to the occasion and relying, more shrewdly than some, on a squad with seasoned performers, like inspirational playmaker and captain Phil Mack and Neil Meechan as well as Ciaran Hearn.
Given a similar line-up, expect a newly confident Canada to make life uncomfortable for the higher seeds Fiji and Samoa in this group. National 15-a-side coach Kieran Crowley's presence as Team Manager is a further boost to the players.
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Chinese Taipei
IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
First appearance
Hong Kong Sevens 2008:
Bowl QF, lost v Zimbabwe 7-26
Form guide:
Unlikely to emerge from this strong Pool but if recent seasons are a guide line Chinese Taipei will still make their presence felt. Scored five tries in the Pool round a year ago, including one against New Zealand which nearly brought the house down and three against the USA.
Keep an eye out for the player who would not look out of place in many of the top teams here, the irrepressible Wang Kuo Feng, who has been their star turn for nearly a decade since first arriving at the tournament as a teenager.
