The very nature of modern international Sevens dictates that all four pools will provide compelling match-ups on the opening two days in Adelaide, although Pool B stands out as being particularly tough, the only group containing four 'core' ever-presents on the World Series.

The simple reason for that is Scotland's poor form on the Series so far. No points towards their season tally yet this term points to a lack of consistency and they therefore lie below the Cook Islands - Bowl winners in Wellington - in the seedings. But it is difficult to see the Scots not having a good tournament before the European climax, where they traditionally excel.

Stephen Gemmell's men recovered marvellously well from an early set-back to win the Plate at the recent Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai and the coach will now be hoping that they can recapture that same confidence. The pool win against USA in Hong Kong hints at the potential, as does the injection of a few new faces, notably the lively Hefin O'Hare.

First up for the Scots at the Adelaide Oval are newly crowned Hong Kong champions Fiji, whose victory against South Africa must surely have relieved much of the pressure on coach Iliesa Tanivula.

"We were written off at home before we left and I think it just motivated us more to come out and the guys did it on the day," he said.

"There have been some problems back home and this is probably one of the things that pulls us together as a nation and I'm sure they're celebrating now."

The festivities will only just have subsided by the time this new tournament kicks off and the Hong Kong champions' second match is against France, who can count themselves unlucky not to have made the Cup quarters in Asia. Two opening victories were followed by a combattive 26-12 loss to eventual runners-up South Africa, the French then running out of steam in the Plate against winners Tonga.

And the fourth member of the 'group of death', none other than World Cup runners-up and USA Sevens champions, Argentina.

Cruelly denied in the Hong Kong quarters with the last kick of the game, Lolo Lui's magical drop-goal, coach Duncan Forrester has proved once again how adept he is at building a team and all that goes with it, even in the absence of five of his best players.  

"My players have a big spirit, they have a great heart and we're ready to do our best in Adelaide," he said.

"This new group is starting now to be a team too.

"If we had beaten Samoa in that Cup quarter final, we would have been second in the World Series, instead of fifth, so that would have been very good, and makes it even harder," added Forrester.

Pool B low-down

Argentina
 
IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Plate SF, lost v Kenya 24-26
George: Cup SF, lost v NZ 5-26
Wellington: Cup SF, lost v NZ 7-10
San Diego: Cup Final, won v England 19-14
Hong Kong: Cup QF, lost v Samoa 12-15
 
Current Series Position:
5th, 56 pts
 
Adelaide 2008:
Bowl final, won v USA 26-21

One to watch: In the absence of captain Santiago Gomez Cora, the side was ably led in Hong Kong by brother Pablo as the Pumas set about building a new team with fresh faces. Martin Bustos Moyano is their danger man out wide, while Martin Rodriguez is surely a Puma in the making.

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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
Hong Kong, Cup Final, won v South Africa 26-24
 
Current Series Position:
3rd, 62 pts
 
Adelaide 2008:
Cup SF, lost v New Zealand 14-17

One to watch: While the outstanding little half back Emosi Vucago was deservedly named Player of the Tournament in Hong Kong, forward Pio Tuwai was equally deserving of the accolade after displaying skill, power and timing in equal measure. Scored six tries, one more than teammate Seremaia Burotu, to help breathe new life back into Fiji, for whom an exciting new era of Sevens rugby could now be dawning.

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France

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai:Bowl Final, lost v Portugal 0-24
George: Bowl Final, won v Australia 21-12
Wellington: Bowl SF, lost v Tonga 5-12
San Diego: Bowl Final lost v Australia 0-40
Hong Kong: Plate SF, lost v Tonga 10-19
 
Current Series Position:
12th, 4 pts
 
Adelaide 2008:
Bowl semi final: lost v Australia 12-24

One to watch: Without a club but never without heart, or a joke, Julien Patey is one of the mainstays of the French Sevens side under Thierry Janeczek. Totally unpredictable, les Bleus are capable of utter brilliance but only rarely show it.

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Scotland
 
IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Shield SF, lost v USA 14-17
George: Shield Final, lost v Zimbabwe 0-26
Wellington: Shield Final, won v Niue 26-0
San Diego: Bowl SF, lost v France 12-17
Hong Kong: Plate QF, lost v Tonga 0-29
 
Current Series Position:
unranked, 0 points
 
Adelaide 2008:
Bowl SF, lost v USA 14-29

One to watch: A league convert who represented Wales, Hefin O'Hare proved himself a lively operator on debut in Hong Kong. Jim Thompson has genuine quality also but the Scots have failed to put it all together so far this season. Perhaps it will come good in Australia.