With two events to play, at Twickenham and Murrayfield this weekend and next, the IRB Sevens World Series is reaching its climax and for once New Zealand are not at the races.

Eight times in nine seasons the kiwis have run out overall winners but the current set of players lie fifth, having relinquished five of the six individual titles they held at the start of the season.

The Edinburgh Cup offers one final defence, but timeless coach Gordon Tietjens conceded the overall crown to South Africa a while ago.


VIDEO: Gordon Tietjens, NZ 7s coach - Relinquishing the World Series

"I think it's accepted that it's been a pretty tough year for us, we've had a few injuries that have knocked us back a bit, we've lost a bit of experience at times and also lost crucial games where we could have won to keep us in the race," said Tietjens.

A wretched run of injuries has certainly played a major part in New Zealand's failure to win a Cup this season, especially in the forward pack. However, Sevens rugby's most qualified judge is also quick to pay tribute to the heightened level of competition.

"There have been some good teams in the World Series this year, they have got better, you're seeing the emergence of a lot of the other sides. Kenya's come on, Argentina have come on big time as well and I suppose ourselves and others like Fiji have been a bit erratic.

"The most consistent have been South Africa, and that's why they're leading at the moment."

Unlike Bok Sevens coach Paul Treu, Tietjens' players are not full-time contracted Sevens players, meaning that those injury woes have been exacerbated by also needing to juggle player form and availability.

Twelve of last season's squad of 17 are not currently available for any number of reasons but Tietjens is ready for a positive and confident climax to the season, which he hopes can set some new players on their way.

"I like the way we look here and I think we'll do well in London and Edinburgh," he said. "Winning is important but it's not everything as long as you see the benefits of Sevens, and we do. In 2006 we didn't have a great year when Fiji won the Series but that was the team that went on to win 47 straight games, having used that year to learn.

"I'm expecting to keep a lot of this squad here together for next year so hopefully they'll kick on."

Tietjens also remains confident of Sevens' continued status as a key development tool in New Zealand.

"Sevens will always be up there in New Zealand because it puts players on the international scene and primes them to go onto Super 14.

"I remember Adam Thompson coming in and playing four or five tournaments for me. No-one knew Adam Thomspon and I think he got (William) Ryder on one of his better days - he turned him inside out and that was his introduction to Sevens rugby against Fiji! And then he went on to become an All Black, and a pretty good All Black too, never played for me again. That's what it does - the Liam Messams, the Rodney Soialos - it puts players out there."

Pool D 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
Adelaide: Cup SF, lost v Kenya 5-17
 
Current Series Position:
4th, 68 pts
 
London 2008:
Cup SF, lost v Fiji 17-21

The Pumas have been reborn this season under coach Duncan Forrester and lie ahead of New Zealand in the table. So often in the past they have been too reliant on poacher supreme Santiago Gomez Cora but in Martin Bustos Moyano, Martin Rodrigues and Gonzalo Camacho they have found more firepower. The latter two have impressed enough to earn call-ups to 15-a-side duty but Gomez Cora returns from injury to star alongside brother Pablo and the dangerous Bustos Moyano. Forrester names three debutants in Mariano Baud, Sebastian Gastaldi and Gaston Revol.
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New Zealand

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Cup SF lost v England 19-21
George: Cup Final lost v South Africa 7-12
Wellington: Cup Final lost v England 17-19
San Diego: Plate Final, won v Kenya 22-7
Hong Kong: Cup QF, lost v Kenya 7-10
Adelaide: Plate SF, lost v England 14-21
 
Current Series Position:
5th, 64 pts
 
London 2008:
Plate Final, won v South Africa 19-12

It was always going to be a tough ask to repeat last year's glorious form. Gordon Tietjens' side went 47 matches unbeaten and captured the first five Cup trophies of the season, but this term they are yet to take a title. Injuries have not helped - Solomon King, Edwin Cocker, Tomasi Cama, DJ Forbes, Nafi Tuitavake and Save Tokula six key men to have been stricken at some stage. King, Cama and Tokula return along with Tim Nanai-Williams, the impressive Ben Souness again makes the grade in his first season while Forbes, Zar Lawrence and Lote Raikabula offer the mainstay steel in the team.
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Portugal

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Bowl Final, won v France 24-0
George: Plate Final, lost v England 7-24
Hong Kong: Bowl Final, won v Uruguay 14-12
Adelaide: Shield SF, lost v USA 14-29
 
Current Series Position:
11th, 9 pts
 
London 2008:
Plate semi final, lost v New Zealand 14-28

Without the outstanding David Mateus, the Portuguese still count his brother and captain Diogo in their number. Pedro Leal, Aderito Esteves, Pedro Silva and Antonio de Aguilar all possess oodles of experience and the team will be brimming with confidence after triumphing at the first leg of FIRA's European circuit in Sopot, Poland last weekend. Sergio Franco and Antonio Almeida make their debuts in place of 15-a-side captain Vasco Uva and Francisco Mirra.
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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
Hong Kong: Plate Final, lost v Tonga 14-12
 
Current Series Position:
14th, 3 pts
 
London Sevens 2008:
Plate SF, lost v Wales 0-31
 
Canada put in by far their best performaces of the season at the World Cup in Dubai and most recently in Hong Kong, but some key players are missing for this tour. Captain and playmaker Phil Mack is the most notable absentee in Shane Thompson's side, while Adam Kleeberger and the outstanding DTH van der Merwe also leave gaping holes. Justin Mensah-Coker provides height and physicality and Neil Meechan and Tony La Carte plenty of experience, but with four debutants - Colin Brown, Spencer Baker, Ian Shoults and Kyle Buckley - they may struggle to cope in such a competitive pool.

Profiles of Pools A, B and C follow in the run-up to the weekend.